Mayan Rivera - Rosewood Mayakoba Resort

Rosewood always has a wonderful touch in everything they do and the Rosewood Mayakoba is no exception.

Mayakoba is a planned, private resort community on a pristine stretch of Caribbean beach just a bit over 30 minutes south of Cancun.   At the center is an 18 hole Greg Norman designed golf course surrounded by three hotels: Rosewood Mayakoba, Banyan Tree and Fairmont.

Each hotel is inter-connected by fresh water limestone canals and one can take a covered lagoon boat to the golf course, to the neighboring hotels for dining & spas  and they all have inter-changeable charge account privileges with each other.

Jungle .Coast. Reef. - Mayakoba is teeming with the flora and fauna of these three distinct, yet interdependent ecosystems.

Rosewood Mayakoba Resort has wonderful architecture from the Spanish architect house Casa Y Jardin, of Madrid - Architects: Gonzalo Martínez-Pita & Enrique Erpen.  Casa y Jardin also did the exceptional interiors and appointments.

The architecture inspired us to consider building a 21st century, small dwelling, in the style of our wonderful over-the water suite.  Everything is so well appointed. From the moment you glide onto your private lagoon deck and are met by your butler, to the lovely outdoor shower one has the feeling of being in a very special place.

From the deck one can watch the bird life in the mangroves and the private plunge pool.  There is every gadget one would want from a Nespresso machine to an Ipod docking station.  The furnishings are very unique, with a real flair for design.   Everywhere one looks, there is a feast for the senses..It is a very large suite that flows beautifully, and the windows are placed to provide wonderful vignettes of the architecture and and offers full privacy.

The resort spans from the beach into the mangrove bayous and to get around one can walk the lovely paths or take one of the frequent golf carts making the loop.  For those that prefer to be near the beach the beachfront suites or the even larger oceanview suites with rooftop pool and sea views are the best choice.

.  From the warm,friendly waiters at breakfast, to the beach restaurant, where one can enjoy a wonderfully prepared tapas menu for under $25 ; dining is a true pleasure at Rosewood.  Try the choya juice at breakfast.

A stay at Rosewood Mayakoba is a treat for all the senses.  A perfect getaway from which you will return home feeling renewed and see life differently.

Mayan Riviera - Royal Hideaway

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One week on the Mayan Riviera ....


Our first stay was at the wonderful, all inclusive resort of Royal Hideaway - a member of Occidental Hotel Group.

Typically, I am not one for "all-inclusive" hotels since I like to explore the region where I am, and sample the local cuisines.  Royal Hideaway changed my mind greatly, but first let me start with the ambiance and accommodations at Royal Hideaway.

Hurricanes can bestow blessings, as well as devastation, and Wilma bestowed a spectacular beach on the Mexican Rivera, particularly in front of Royal Hideaway.

One of the places to dine is out on the deck overlooking this magnificent beach.  In the evenings they also set up a bar on the beach and lovely wicker furniture  with linens flowing in the breeze for sunset cocktails.

The accommodations are spacious.  We were fortunate to get one of the duplex suites, which has a lovely sitting area, with a terrace and a hammock, overlooking the beach.  Upstairs, a large bedroom with a very comfy bed, and a lovely bath with luxurious bath products.  The piece de resistance was the large rooftop sundeck overlooking the ocean off  the bedroom.  The bedroom also boasted another terrace facing into the courtyard gardens.  

Royal Hideaway is an adult only resort ,and the activities offered are refined and in keeping with the luxury the resort offers.  One night they offer dancing to the Bossa Nova under the palms, another night martini tasting on the beach with a good combo.

The resort is especially good value offering free wi-fi along with all the dining and drinking experiences,  hobie cats, sea kayaks and lots of other toys.

Low season rates until Dec. 17 are as low as $2,850 for two persons, seven night stay - all inclusive!  This is a spectacular deal.  As your Virtuoso agency we can offer a room upgrade subject to availability, a $100 spa credit, complimentary parking and priority dining reservations.

The charming town of Playa del Carmen is just there, where one can stroll the colorful pedestrian Fifth Avenue with its trattorias and shopping for Mexican handicrafts.

contact Travel Exchange 800-242-0248
Barbara Herrott     barbarah@travelexchange.net

Anguilla and its wonderful beaches - Viceroy Hotel

     Just recently back from a week on Anguilla and a wonderful stay at the new Viceroy Hotel.

     Anguilla is now easy to reach by flying non stop to St Maarten/St Martinn, with its new wonderfully modern airport,  and taking the Funtime power boat for the 30 minute hop across the water to the Customs House on Anguilla.  Cost is approximately $80 each direction. 

      Funtime is right at the airport. They operate a very efficient meet & greet service and makes for an enjoyable ride over to Anguilla.  They even serve cold drinks and have a very friendly staff.  Entering Anguilla requires a bit of paperwork but there is a nice West Indies feel to arriving at the Customs House and then a short taxi ride to your hotel.

     The Viceroy Anguilla just opened in November 2009 and is part of the growing Viceroy Hotel Group, (formerly Kor Hotel Group).  The group is focused on distinctively styled properties with remarkable design elements and stylish flair.  The first ones were in Santa Monica, Palm Springs and West Hollywood.  The collection has now established  The Tides as one of their signature brands and as a leading force of the contemporary hotel scene will be growing the collection.

     The Anguilla property has very sophisticated and glamorous interiors done by Kelly Wearstler, a highly respected designer who brings a sensual style to her design.Everywhere you look there are interesting sculptures of organic materials from around the world and a feast for the senses.

Viceroy Anguilla sits on 35 acres between Barnes Bay and Meads Bay. and there are magnificent.sea views from the dramatic lobby area and most rooms.  The beach club which offers lunch as well is a 5 minute shuttle ride away,  Once the the final phase of the construction is complete it will be a short stroll down to Meads Bay.  The hotel has managed to keep most of the construction from interfering with guests.

With any new property in the beginning there are some glitches along the way, and let's remember this is the Caribbean after all.  All of these things will be worked through under the watchful eye of Jan Tibaldi, the hotel's Swiss General Manager.  Jan was very visible throughout our week in all parts of the hotel, especially when some large seas required closing the main dining room for several days, and the second restaurant needed to be used for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

   

    
Dining at Viceroy - , the restaurants have a good menu selection and use high quality ingredients with nice presentations.  Coba, the premier dining room gives water views on all sides as it sits out on the promontory.  The dining room staff are very friendly and all eager to please.  I particularly like the trend for cafe presse in individual pots - nice full bodied coffee.

The rooms are very spacious and elegantly appointed in creams, and serene neutral tones with fine design furnishings and objets d'art throughout.  The spacious terrace of a one bedroom has a plunge pool and both the bedroom and the living room give way onto the terrace.

The beaches of Anguilla are legendary. The Viceroy sits on a promontory flanked by Barnes Bay and Meads Bay.  One has wonderful views of the azure Caribbean waters from most rooms.

The best way to do Anguilla is to have a car rental so one can experience different dining spots around the island.  For a list of the best restaurants, please contact me and I will be happy to give you the scoop.

Barbara Herrott - barbarah@travelexchange.net

Restaurant Scene in Aruba - January 2010

Luisa McGrath has spend the last 20 years in Aruba during the month of January.  Here's her report on the latest restaurant scene:

A new, terrific "open-air mall" has been built, across and very short walk from the Hyatt, where they have shops, restaurants, and even a fountain that has a light show at 8pm.  Dancing waters (very mini Bellagio) but fun and does attract a lot of people.  One can see it from any of the restaurants in the mall. 

There are several restaurants with outdoor dining, a Mexican, a seafood, etc., also  one of called Taste of Belgium,  they have indoor and outdoor dining, looked really nice but did not have time to get back there for dinner.  My group  had dinner (10 of us) at the new Mr. Jazz (indoors) with big windows overlooking the square, and they do have a jazz band starting at 8pm (great band) and a dance floor as well. Great looking place and the food was excellent.  We all had different food choices and each one of us loved our meal.  Highly recommend it.Not terribly expensive.

The Hyatt itself has several restaurants, my favorite Ruinas del Mar.  Try to get a table outside.  Only about 6 tables and fun to watch the swans floating on the little river while you have dinner.  Cannot make reservations for an outside table, so recommend going early for better chance.  Food and service there  excellent.  On the high-priced category.

In that area there is a fun place, "Smoky Joe's" their specialty being ribs - Dick had them and they were fabulous. They have everything, from Cuban style chicken, to terrific burgers with gouda cheese, to fish and chips (they use the catch of the day - Lisa had it and it was Mahi-Mahi. )   Casual and fun.  (outdoor seating) Not expensive.

Chez Matilde is back and wonderful!  Pricey but fabulous. For the past couple of years it has undergone ownership/management changes and they finally put their act together again. It's downtown, but worth while the drive down. I always have the escargot and Lisa loves their onion soup. Lisa and Dick had fillet and some other kind of steak. I had a wonderful veal picatta.  Lisa had a banana souffle for dessert - to die for.

Also downtown and specializing in fish is The Driftwood. We go there every year. It is a favorite of all our friends from our time-share. All of us go back and back again. Highly recommended. On the expensive side, but not terribly.

Another downtown restaurant we never miss is El Gaucho.  Argentinian beef.  Try the Churrasco. They don't make reservations, but when you arrive you can have a drink at the bar and they give you a little beeper that tells you when your table is ready. It used to be a long time to get your table, but the economy has take its toll and we just had to wait around 15 minutes this time. Also highly recommended. Average on the high side prices.

Downtown has a Cuban restaurant "Cuba's Cookin" real Cuban food and fun. It can be very noisy because they do have live band, so if you go, do ask for a table in the quieter room. Not sound-proof.... quieter.... If you, or a client goes there, let me know and I will suggest what to eat. Moderately priced.

Marandi has excellent food.  I did not go this year but friends of mine did and they told me food as great as always. But, it used to be on the beach, which was fun, and now they have moved to the land-side. Expensive. 

Madame Janette is very popular, people love it. Somehow it is not one of my favorites, but it is always crowded and very difficult to get a reservation. Also on the high-side pricing.

Chalet Suisse on the low-rise side of hotels, is excellent. They do have excellent Chilean seabass and I have had very good filet.  Not romantic, but simple, elegant decor. Food is great. On the expensive side.

There is a new, casual place - Bingo - I did not go but friends of mine had a burger that they raved about. They do have full menu and it is not terribly expensive.

Marina Pirata, past the airport, a bit of a drive, has always been fun.  Specializing in seafood.  Worth the drive. Moderately priced.

Hostaria Da'Vittorio is a delightful Italian restaurant.  On the expensive  side, but excellent.

Bucaneer is an old favorite. Very fresh fish and seafood. If you go ask to be seated in one of the rooms with the walls line the fish tanks.  One side especially, with the larger tanks, has lobsters and all kinds of strange fish - lots of fun to watch. Casual, on the moderately priced side.

On the low-rise side of hotels, short walk from my place, is Pizza Bob's. Casual, fun, and we had a pizza that I thought I would never like, but Lisa wanted it, so we had it - and I loved it! Barbequed chicken pizza. They have all kinds of pizzas of course and burgers and lots of other simple stuff. They also have wonderful Aruban beer on tap - great combination.

And the one I feel is the most romantic setting is Papiamento with fabulous food and wonderful service. One of the more expensive ones. Tables placed around the original (quite old) house and surrounding the pool with tables also inside, but you really want to sit outside.  I do love this one. 

And a new one (We went for brunch and it was to die for).  Called Windows and it's located at the new Divi Golf Course. Set up high with wonderful views of the sea and the golf course.  If you are drinking champagne they do keep pouring.... I lost track.... I did have a very good nap on the beach that afternoon.... Recommend very highly for brunch on Sunday.  Pricey of course...

Many other  restaurants - it is hard to have a bad meal in Aruba.  Just highlighting the ones I know best.

I'm hungry.... I am going home....  Luisa


Luisa McGrath
Travel Exchange - A Virtuoso Agency
Westport, Ct. 06880
203-221-3500

Best Hotels of Hawaii and Aloha Spirit

Aloha is the coordination of mind and heart... it's within the individual. It brings you down to yourself. You must think and emote good feelings to others.

A stands for AKAHAI, meaning kindness, to be expressed with tenderness.

L stands for LOKAHI, meaning unity, to be expressed with harmony.

O stands for `OLU`OLU, meaning agreeable, to be expressed with pleasantness.

H stands for HA`AHA`A, meaning humility, to be expressed with modesty.

A stands for AHONUI, meaning patience, to be expressed with perseverance.

Just back from 12 days in Hawaii and i was touched by the Aloha spirit. Some of you may have heard me say before going - i am not keen on Hawaii - it's such a long way to go for beaches that are not as good as those we have nearby.
     It has been 27 yrs since I was there - hard to believe. i used to go every year before that with one group or another and one of my early fams was to Hawaii. But then flying became such a chore. Well not on Continental - they have superb service I must say, and flying their nonstop (767) was delightful. the 767 does not have flat beds, but a very well padded and comfortable seat and the leg rest was perfectly positioned for getting a solid 6 hrs. of sleep.
     Continental's airport facility at Newark is very, very good, with lots of good shopping, restaurant outlets, and very courteous and friendly ground crews, and equally friendly flight attendants in each direction - it was a pleasure to fly Continental. I know Cliff and Luisa indicated they shared this nice experience recently on CO as well.

     So yes, it's a long way to go, but CO makes it very pleasurable and you can get a good solid sleep. From the moment you land, one is touched by the Aloha spirit. I learned this time around, that it is not just a tourism gimmick, but deeply felt as part of the culture, which is why i give you the essence of the Aloha spirit.. This spirit is embodied in everyone at Four Seasons and the Hawaiian people practices Aloha, and finds pleasant things to say and do as part of every day.
     One usually says one needs at least 10 days for Hawaii - I would add another two for twelve days if one can do it and the perfect blend was the hotels I had the wonderful opportunity to visit. The perfect in every way to do it is with the three Four Seasons properties. but first another great hotel....

Waikiki
Halekulani - we all know it, and it has won many an award as being one of the best hotels in the world, and it did not disappoint. The redo has exceptionally beautiful furnishings and style, and immediately puts one in a calm and serene frame of mind, despite being in the midst of Waikiki (although it is tucked away just enough off the main street ). Lewers Street from Kalakaua leading to the Halekulani is oh so lovely, with torches lining the streets at night, sweet little boutiques with very reasonable prices, and for those wanting Hermes, etc. it is right there - extraordinary shopping along Kalakakaua.  Afterall, here is where the Japanese come to shop the LV & Hermes of the world, with great selections. One can even save on the sales tax which is a paltry 4%, and the selections are terrific.

     The terrace and outdoor dining spot "House Without A Key" is an enchanting people watching spot around sunset. Really sophisticated and low key crowd, and a nice combo playing that wonderful 40's music puts you in another world. with Waikiki beach as a backdrop, surfers riding the last waves, the music wafting through the palms, one feels as if on a set of From Here to Eternity. the crowd ranges from families, to California hip, film crews and everything in between, Food is excellent at the hotel.

     We had a corner deluxe room facing Diamond Head and a large terrace. While the terrace was quite a good size, the room was a bit smaller in the Japanese sensibility, but with lovely furnishings, fine linens and appointments.
     Halekulani means " House Befitting Heaven" and, for us old timers ,who remember when it was a collection of one story (most two) cottages on prime Waikiki real estate in sore need of a redo. Well the new construction honored the old ,and it is an inspired modern design that strikes just the right scale.
so i keep the little note from my pillow on my bedside table now.... "May your journey bring you home to our "House Befitting Heaven".

     Kahala Resort- we did go out to Kahala to see how it is and it is still a quiet, wonderful little spot and the best place to eat beachside. The central lobby is still elegant and has held up very well although I miss the dolphins as you check-in. they have moved them along the lagoon thing along the back - a sign of the times I guess. Now it has sort of an admission booth - not quite, but some kind of sign up station which changed the feeling quite a bit.
    Lunch was okay but not wonderful, although the magical setting along the beach is still as I remember, and the people are that wonderful friendly style of Hawaii.
    Waikiki is most definitely worth a stopover - a place where East meets West in a gentle land, and one cannot beat the shopping, dining and city scene which goes all night. 

Hawaii in Four Seasons style .... the absolutely best way to see Hawaii and capture the Aloha Spirit

First stop Four Seasons Maui - 4 nights here which was the perfect length. allowing time to wander up to Kaanapali and a dinner stop in Lahaina (Wailea is 45 minute drive from Lahaina). A visit to Maui's Upcountry is also an interesting and easy day trip, where one can go back to the agricultural roots of Maui . We were told they are trying now to move from the dominance of sugar cane to grow other things ,and they are starting some artisanal farms for goat cheeses, mushrooms, etc. The Up Country villages on the way to Haleakala offer some interesting vignettes, some hippie boutiques and, I am told, some good little bistros.
much has changed, and now Wailea is, from my view, the more desirable side of Maui, but then, Kaanapali is so close to charming Lahaina.

Lahaina Grill - a very special restaurant in Lahaina owned by the former executive chef of The Mandarin in Hong Kong and one knows when dining at this colorful, historic  spot that one is in the hands of a master chef.

     The Four Seasons Maui offers something for everyone and is a lovely hotel in design on a very nice cove beach good for swimming. The outdoor restaurant serves a good selection and is chaming and candlelit for dinner under the stars.

     The hotel is a large edifice however the lovely gardens (and they are grand) and the open feel of the lobby, bar and dining areas add that Four Seasons touch.

A new addition - an adults only serenity pool is marvelous - the GM told us it was done at a cost of $10 million and one can believe it. a delicately done, tasteful swim up bar, cabanas where one can get a discreet outdoor massage, and ringed with jacuzzi jets around the perimeter that stretches the length on both sides of the 50 ft. long infinity pool. all of this is on the hill overlooking the Pacific, and the curve of the beach - breathtaking!

     Duo, the main reastaurant is open air, skirted by the main pools and the food is excellent and inventive. Another good dining experience is in Wolfgang Puck's signature restaurant for the wonderful fusion they serve up.
     In keeping with FS policy, they invite local artists to exhibit their work in the lower lobby and, as one goes to/from breakfast ,there are these wonderful artists, and a chance to find a special piece, which adds to the connectedness of place that FS always strives for. Did you know that Isadore Sharp (founder and wonderful leader of FS, started with his first hotel in Toronto, and introduced it by starting an art show for emerging artists, which is now 40 years old and going strong.
     It is the exposure to art and fine taste that makes all FS unique, and one feels lifted up in spirit being surrounded by such quality and fine, fine service and kindness. Not to mention I had one of the best massages of my life here, and became pain free (bad back) for the first time in over a year as a result.

Four Seasons Hualalai - Big Island Kohola Coast - now here is Hawaii just the way one would dream of spending days in Hawaii. This resort is very, very special and the golf I understand is C'est Extra!

     Most rooms face the sea in 4 distinct areas each offering certain charms. we were in Sea Shell which was perfect for us. There was a salt water lagoon just in front for worry free swimming in the Pacific, and a pool and one of the restaurants was just nearby. The other areas are Beach Tree (nearest to main pool), Kings Pond, and Palm Grove . Each area is different to some extent and I would be happy to help if you are sending clients to this wonderful resort. Some of the outdoor rooms have outdoor lava showers while the upstairs rooms from the terrace give lovely views - the terraces are large with a table & chairs and two chaise longues.

Hualalai has been all redone and, while I heard a few women colleagues say they found the rooms a bit on the masculine side, I personally find them very much in keeping with the ambiance of the Big Island.

The several dining options all proved to be very good and at night the property is lit mostly by torch- lit paths that meander the extensive property. Everyone you pass smiles and says aloha.Once again it is this gentle mood that becomes pervasive and puts one in a sense of calm and peacefulness.

     The rolling waves and tradewinds just lull one's spirit. The spa treatments are very good here as well and massage can be outdoors.

There are a number of dining options all offering sea views and wonderful food.

   VOG -one negative is this volcanic Smog they call Vog. it comes from the Big Island, a new fizzure that opened two years ago and adds sulphur dioxide to the air when the trades stop blowing., Oahu was particularly effected when we were there, when the Kona winds blow, (prevailing winds are from the NE) but when the wind comes from the south it reaches Oahu,. At certain times the air quality on Hawaii is not good for anyone who suffers from asthma or respiratory conditions and the local people I am told put multiple air filters on their homes.
     Last stop the quiet island of Lanai - Lanai had been a private island for the Dole Pineapple Company and their 3,000 workers and in its heyday no one could go to Lanai unless they were connected to Dole Food Company now owned by Castle & Cooke who became real estate developers..

Four Seasons  Manele Bay is a wonderful place to unwind, where one can have a room opening directly onto the Pacific Ocean. The beach is quiet with good swimming and snorkeing, where Spinner Dolphins come to romp each morning, and wild turkeys parade past one's terrace if you are ground level.

     Genny tells me the golf is superb here and I don't doubt it.

      The rooms are all very large, nicely appointed with big verandahs or terraces.

While all FS offer children's programs and do special things for kids, we were very impressed by the children's center on Lanai especially, . The program offers a good sampling of activities and Lanai is perfect for families. But it is also perfect for honeymooners or, as we had, a final stop on a Hawaii sojourn. It is so very relaxing.

     Lanai City is a 15 min drive in the complimentary shuttle or, for those that are more sportive, a bicycle ride away and offers some little art galleries, I am told some nice island boutiques and a glimpse into old Hawaii.
     There are only 3,500 inhabitants on Lanai. The airport is modern and for the outdoor types ,Lanai offers some good outdoor adventures such as riding along the ridge in jeeps along the crest of the island.


  

    Four Seasons Lodge at Koele is very special . Maginificent grand Norfolk Pines line the road all the way up and it is truly a unique experience to visit the lodge. All visitors to Lanai should plan on using the Lodge facilities as well as Manele Bay.

When one walks into the great hall of the lodge there are fireplaces burning on either side. The air is decidedly cooler and a bit misty as the sun sets which makes it just right. The sunsets from here are spectacular, and the rooms at the lodge are everything one would expect from a Great Lodge - charming with views over the extensive gardens, horse pastures and croquet fields.

Rooms at Koele Lodge are in keeping with the Great Lodge feeling from the original plantation house and offer those cozy comforts one would expect in a great lodge

A perfect Hawaii vacation - combine all three because each one offers unique charms, and each is quite different. Island hopping is easy, remind your clients to pack light, (not like me - ugh!) and they will succumb to this land of Aloha spirit and magic

__________________

posted by: Barbara Herrott   |  President
Travel Exchange | 32  Thread Needle Lane | Stamford, Ct. 06902 | 203.961.1900 | 800.248.0248

Original Post: 02/03/10

Machu Picchu: A Traveler's Experience January 2010

The Ramada Inn was literally a couple of steps across a cross walk from the Lima airport arrivals exit.  Nothing fancy at all, but absolutely perfect for a late arrival.  Again, there is no point in arriving late and getting shuttled to a nice place, only to return early the next day for a flight out of Lima. 

You know, when we were first planning this trip, I was thinking/concerned that we were mainly going all that way just to see one site:  Machu Picchu.  And that all of the rest of the stuff was really just “filler” activity.  I was simply wrong about that.  The other things we did and saw were interesting, fun and fascinating:  the condor/llama/alpaca sanctuary, the crop laboratory, the salt mines, certainly the ruins at Ollantaytambo, the Pisac market, the weaving demo at Chinchero…all really wonderful stuff. Also the picnic they set up for us out in the middle of picturesque nowhere (see the photo). And there are really no adequate words to describe Machu Picchu itself.  I would recommend this exact trip to anybody who will listen.  And to do the trip in the same order we did it.  Machu Picchu must be seen last, or the other sites would seem anticlimactic, for sure.

And having the private guide completely made it.  I don’t know how else you could do this trip, though.  And of course, the driver was excellent and his private van comfy.  Our guide, M.C., was excellent.  Extremely personable, excellent English skills and impressive knowledge of all that we did/saw. 

Our accommodations could not have been better:
The Ramada Inn was perfect for the situation.

The Villa at Urubamba was exquisite.  The concept here is that you are IN your villa.  There is nowhere else to go, nothing to do in the villa resort.  But it was beautiful inside and out. Inca Indian décor, etc.  Completely comfortable, luxuriously appointed, etc.  And there was Roxana…our private cook.  She quietly came into the kitchen (via a side door), in the morning, and at the exact appointed time, a sumptuous breakfast spread was on the table.  Then we’d leave for the day to do our thing.  We’d get back to the villa late afternoon.  Roxana would come in, light the fire in the fireplace and start preparing dinner.  The fact that she cleaned up was almost as good as the food she made.  And while we were having dessert, she was sneaking hot water bottles between our bedsheets. Aaaaahhh.  Next morning, same routine.  She didn’t speak a word of English. No problem for us.

The train to Aguas Calientes was really fun, with spectacular scenery.  We were told that we could each only bring one small duffel on the train with us because of restricted baggage space.  We were not at all please with this news.  But we managed to consolidate our stuff and pack what we needed for Aguas Calientes/Inkaterra/Machu Picchu, while the rest was forwarded to our Hotel Monasterio in Cuzco.  I felt we should have been advised of this limitation by Andean Experience before coming to Peru so we could plan the packing accordingly and the specific luggage pieces.  After all of that, though, it turned out to be no problem either way.  We managed our packing, and it wouldn’t have mattered even if we had boarded with all of our large luggage.  I mean there were Japanese and Dutch tourists on that train with suitcases the size of Toyota Vans!  No problem.

The Hotel Inkaterra was outstanding in every way.  A beautiful eco-oriented property with a mid-rainforest feeling.  Great spa, good restaurant.  We took the Orchid tour (very cool) and treated ourselves to spa treatments. Aaaahh. 

We were pleasantly surprised that our private guide for Machu Picchu turned out to be the same wonderful young lady, M.C., from the first part of the trip. She was already like an old friend! And, again, impressively knowledgeable about MP. 

After all of the ‘warnings’ we had read online, in books and in AE’s info, it turned out that we never had a problem with the altitude (yeah, our chests pounded a bit extra while climbing Inca stairways), nor with mosquitos.  We sprayed with Deet before the visit to MP, but honestly we never saw any bugs.  Here’s an interesting one:  we knew we were going in “rainy season” and that we risked lots of rain, but we decided to throw the dice and go anyway.  And we NEVER had a problem with rain!  Yes we had a little here and there, and thanks to M.C. (or so she claimed), it only rained while we were riding in the bus or at night, and never while we were seeing our sites.  (It actually POURED at MP AFTER we were done and were enjoying our buffet lunch up there in the Sanctuary Lodge restaurant.  (In spite of my fears of it being very touristy, it was superb.)  The tremendous upside of going during the ‘rainy’ season was that everything was amazingly, beautifully UNCROWDED…especially Machu Picchu and Ollantaytambo and in Cuzco.  Of course, having said that, only two weeks later, they did have the tragic mudslides and incredible chaos of the people being trapped in Aguas Calientes.  What a nightmare that would have been, for sure.  So we were very, very lucky the way the weather played out for us.

Note:  We checked out the Sanctuary Lodge right there at the entrance to MP.  No way would I want to stay there rather than Inkaterra.  It looked OK, but you couldn’t actually see MP from the Lodge, and there is nothing to do there.  After we did our very extensive tour of the ruins, we had no need to re-enter to see more at dusk or anything like that.  Plus, the Inkaterra was a very short walk to the restaurants and market in Aguas Calientes.

There is no real need to have lunches reserved at the Inkaterra Hotel if you don’t want to be obligated there, especially if you are going to eat dinners there.  There were all kinds of interesting places to eat in Aguas Calientes.  In fact, we’d had our lunch included for our departing day, yet the train departure was too early to allow us to have that lunch.  However, Inkaterra packed us a great box lunch which we enjoyed on the train back to Ollantaytambo (instead of their ‘airplane’-style snack provided.)

We were met at the train in Ollantaytambo by David, our driver,  Luis’,  brother (both of whom were delightful people and very good drivers) and taken to the Hotel Monasterio in Cuzco.  What a fantastic hotel.  Clearly it is THE place to stay in Cuzco. Definitely one of the nicer hotels we have stayed in over the years.  And perfectly located.  We very much enjoyed our ‘unguided’ exploration of Cuzco.  While we loved and appreciated being so well taken care of for the previous several days by the AE contractors (as Emma so eloquently put it, “ It’s nice to be coddled like a little egg”), being on our own was really nice.  In Cuzco we went to one great museum (Inca Museum) and then spent most of our time shopping.  We enjoyed the dinners on our own, too.  Before we said goodbye to MC in Machu Picchu, she asked us if we wanted to meet up for lunch in her home town of Cuzco, and we said, “Of course!”.  She led us to a very local place back in the old town and we feasted on goat, pork and corn beer. Lunch was our treat!

The next day we flew from Cuzco to Lima where we were faced with that eight-hour layover (this would be good to avoid next time, if possible.).  But we were met by an AE rep and a driver/van, and driven out to a beautiful restaurant on the beach.  It was a nice way to kill a couple of hours before returning to the airport to catch our flight out.

Just FYI, Continental Airlines continues to be one of our least favorite airlines (in terms of service, convenience, etc.), but it had the schedule we needed, so…

That’s it!  All in all, an amazing trip.  I hope you enjoy the photo album.  Let me know if you want any other information or have any questions or comments, or if you can’t open the album.

Thanks for everything, and we are hard at work trying to decide where to go next and when.  As soon as we do, I’ll call you!


Pam VR Long
Travel Exchange
Virtuoso Associate
PO Box 559
Palm City, FL 34991
Phone 772 781 8099

Ireland Fam Report

You need to read all of this. There will be a quiz at the end...

Last week I returned from a 6 night FAM trip to Ireland hosted by Celebrated Experiences. The itinerary (attached) was a very busy one and I travelled with 7 other agents from
all parts of the USA. I haven't been to Ireland in 8 years and the changes have been enormous. The past 20 years have been a time of unprecedented growth bringing in wealth
from all parts of the world. "The Celtic Tiger" is what these years have been titled as it was a time that sleepy Ireland suddenly became one of the most happening places on the planet. International companies came to Ireland opening offices and manufacturing plants attracting mostly younger workers. Ireland also became a part of the European Union
which has helped it modernize its roads and infrastructure.

Dublin's International Airport is just completing a multi million Euro expansion and the roads into the city are new and modern. As with the rest of the world the economic climate
has changed in the past year Ireland was hurt as much or more than any country. Dublin has changed in many ways since I last visited but the casual friendly atmosphere is
still very much in existence. The streets are alive with well dressed locals and tourists visiting the many shops, restaurants and other attractions.

Our first night was spent at The Fitzwilliam which is located right on St. Stephen's Green. The Fitzwilliam is a very comfortable combination of urban modern and traditional hotel design. The rooms are extremely comfortable with large bathrooms and many with balconies, some overlooking the park. There are 2 restaurants. Thorntons, the larger of the
two is considered by some to be the best restaurant in the country. From the front door of the hotel you can walk to many of the local attractions like Grafton St. and Trinity College.

http://www.fitzwilliamhotel.com/

Saturday night we stayed at the Merrion which is just around the corner but a world away in terms of experience. The Merrion is a traditional deluxe hotel with a warm comfortable
decor, furniture and a wonderful art collection displayed throughout the hotel. The hotel has gardens in the rear of the hotel that many of the rooms look out on. Other rooms
overlook Merrion Street. The lounges are warm with real fireplaces in almost every public room. The smell of the peat fire adds to the warm feeling. There is a pool and a small health club and several restaurants which I will not drone on about-they are excellent. By the way we had a site inspection on Sunday of Hotel Dylan which was named by the Times of London best modern urban hotel in Europe. This hotel is an ultracool, low attitude property that is becoming the place to hang out in Dublin. Check out their website:

http://www.dylan.ie/

http://www.merrionhotel.com/

Sunday we headed out to the countryside touring Glendalough with its historic monastic sites and the town of Kilkenny with its castle and design center. That night we stayed at
the Mt. Juliet which is a huge estate that includes a golf course (Jack Nicklaus), a horse stud farm and a well equipped spa. The approach to the resort is like you are in a movie with this giant home surrounded by some of the most beautiful grounds you will ever see. The rooms are large and very deluxe. This is one of the few places you can go on a fox hunt in Ireland.

http://www.mountjuliet.ie/

On Monday we drove down to the coast of Ireland where we had a site inspection of the Cliff House in Ardmore. The Cliff House is one of the few hotels in Ireland that face directly
on the sea. It is a modern 39 room hotel built into the side of a cliff with all rooms looking on the water, Ardmore is a short drive from Waterford and the Cliff House is worth a visit
for its spa, its restaurant and the views That afternoon we had a tour of the Jameson Distillery and a tasting before heading down to Cobh to get a short tour of the immigrant experience. There are some very interesting exhibits in Cobh which was the final port for the Titanic before she sailed for New York. Next we headed to Cork which is
a vibrant city with a large university and many food and cultural festivals. Monday night we stayed at Hayfield Manor which was the one property that was a bit of a disappointment.
The building is relatively new but was designed to look hundreds of years old. First of all it is of a style that is not needed in a city like Cork. The rooms are large with some wear
showing. It feels strange to walk out of a Manor House and one half a block away you are on a college campus. Don't get me wrong the place is great but look where I had previously stayed...

http://www.thecliffhousehotel.com

http://www.hayfieldmanor.ie/

Tuesday morning we drove to Kenmare stopping at a cheese and produce shop and a Chocolate shop called Lorge's operated by a relocated Frenchman. The afternoon was spent in Kenmare with a stop at Park Hotel Kenmare for afternoon tea. I think Kenmare was my favorite town of the trip and the Park Hotel was a really charming property
overlooking Kenmare Bay. This is a very traditional hotel that has a good deal of warmth and exceptional spa and indoor pool. It is walking distance from the town and
the rooms are all different and feel like you are staying at your very rich grandmother's house. About 3 miles away is Sheen Falls Lodge which is a grander version of the Park Hotel. The hotel is surrounded by the falls and most guests can fall asleep to the sound of the water. This is a very dramatic location with new 2-5 BR villas close by for families
who want a bit more privacy. Guests can fish in the river and have their catch smoked at the resorts smokehouse. Golf is nearby and the 2 restaurants are excellent.

http://www.sheenfallslodge.ie/

http://www.parkkenmare.com/

It is Wednesday and I am tired, over-fed and slightly hungover. I wasn't aware that what I needed was a boat ride on a lake in Killarney with some Irish Coffee. Who knew?
A couple of sips of the coffee and an Irish band begins to play and I am back in business. Seriously, the scenic drive to Killarney via Molls Gap was an awesome experience.
The views are like a postcard and by noon I was at Adare Manor with a live Falcon eating chicken from my left arm. Adare Manor is a true castle experience. The grounds are
a piece of art as is the restored building itself. The guest rooms are huge with all the modern amenities you would expect. There is a golf course just outside the door was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and is the focus of many of its guests. Fishing, cooking demonstrations and clay pigeon shooting are some of the many other amenities.
After leaving with drove out to the Cliffs of Moher which are a dramatic sight. Finally we arrived at The Lodge at Doonbeg which is a 7 year old golf/resort that has a links course overlooking the Atlantic. This property is owned and operated by the same group that owns Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina. This is a deluxe Manor style hotel with
a country club feeling. The golf course was designed by Greg Norman has ocean views from 16 or its 18 holes. The rooms are big and have either golf or ocean views.
There are many dining options from pub style to fine dining in The Long Room. The mattress here was the best of the trip and by now I have become a mattress professional.
Thursday begins and Shannon airport and home is just a hour away. Whew!

http://www.adaremanor.com/golf-resort-ireland

http://www.doonbeggolfclub.com/index.html

----------------------a word about Celebrated Experiences----------------------------

After a Fam trip agents feel that the host of the trip and the company they represent are the greatest
company you can use in the future. I really think that Celebrated can be viewed as a one stop shop for England, Ireland,
Scotland and Wales. This trip was a no nonsense fam. A true working fam attended by some excellent agents who know their
stuff and could be invited free to any of these hotels yet paid a fee to attend this trip. We were up at 8am daily and covered
over 900 miles on the trip.

Jonathan Epstein from Celebrated is a young guy was described by several of the Irish Hoteliers as more knowledgeable about their
country than they were. Every agent I spoke with who has used Celebrated said the feed back from clients is excellent.
They handle any kind of travel in the countries they deal with. They send documents with information and things to do for
even a single hotel night. They know all of their hotels personally and usually will suggest a particular room given
a description of the guest. They will do transfers, private touring, event tickets etc. They are located in Atlanta so you can speak
to them real time. I only suggest that you try them. They are a small but hard working team.

http://www.celebratedexperiences.com/

Cliff Morgan
Travel Exchange

Trendy Paris shopping

Trendy Paris shopping guides
In Paris: Made by Hand, Bijkerk divulges the contents of her little black book, focusing in over 50 shops that exemplify the Paris fait main aesthetic by offering truly one of a kind items produced or restored entirely by hand.

© Maison de la France

Antigua Curtain Bluff

If you're looking for a relaxing and peaceful vacation then Curtain Bluff is the perfect resort.

As we arrived at Curtain Bluff my first thought was...wow, how did I get so lucky? The resort is beautiful with lots of tropical flowers and a great open-air
entranceway, that gives you the feeling, as you step in, that you have finally arrived and can start relaxing. We were immediately met by Wendy, the Assistant Manager, who took us to our room. Our room was a beautiful junior suite located on the ground floor with a patio that led directly to the beach. The room was large with a sitting area, huge bathroom and a ceiling fans that kept the room so nice and cool that no air conditioner was needed. The rooms do not have a t.v. or radio but there is a place at the resort with a t.v. and internet for guests to use. The best part of the room was the view, we had a perfect ocean views and the only noise you could hear was the sound of the waves.

A View from Our Patio

Our Room

There are two beaches at Curtain Bluff: the surf beach (where our room was) and a much calmer beach. The calm beach is where Curtain Bluff has their watersports and all other activities. We played bocci one afternoon and another day took out a paddle-boat, fun but a little too much work for us while on vacation. There's lots to do if you are so inclined..... you can go snorkeling, kayaking, play basketball, tennis, etc. They also have a putting green. Although most guests used the calmer beach to hang out during the day, that beach remained quiet and relaxing. I tried to use my ipod while there, but turned it off
after a minute. I found that any sound except those of the waves ruined the perfect beach atmosphere. Curtain Bluff also has a spa located on the bluffs
with each treatment room facing the ocean. These amazing views can also be enjoyed in their relaxation room which is completely open, and which has
a fabulous infinity jacuzzi. We enjoyed massages one afternoon and then spent some time in the jacuzzi, something I would recommend that every guest
experience while at Curtain Bluff.

Calm Beach

The food at Curtain Bluff was excellent! Each morning we would start our day with breakfast on our patio (with such amazing view why leave?). Breakfast was delightful, simple. They have omelets , fresh fruit, pastries, always consistently very good. Lunch was at the beach offering a delightful buffet which featured different island specials. They offer an a-la-carte menu as well. It was easy to find something different to try each afternoon. Dinner was the main event of the day. Each evening the guests dress up and off they go to the Main dining room. The food and service is great. My favorite was the fresh snapper and, of course, dessert.... the chocolate mouse was amazing! Each night you could find Michelle Hulford (the owner) chatting with all the guests to make sure they had a great day. She gives a very personal feel to the whole resort by just simply checking on everyone and you can tell she remembers each of her guests that come back year after year.

We also took a trip over to Carlisle Bay one afternoon for a site inspection. It is a very contemporary resort while being very comfortable. The rooms are all oceanview suites with white linens complemented by dark woods. The rooms have flat screen TVs, CD and dvd players. They also have 3 bedroom suites that are perfect for families, some even have kitchenettes. The resort has a great kids club that offers a lot for the kids, with variety of activities, like one day they might get a lesson with a tennis pro and another day a lesson on how to catch and release lizards. There is also a small screening room where they show movies a few times a day. They really cater to families but there is an adults section of the resort that is quiet. Carlisle Bay is hoping to attract more honeymooners in the future. We had dinner at East - Asian food and sushi. Everything was wonderful and it was a fun night.

our room at Carlisle Bay

Both resorts are beautiful but very different, Curtain Bluff is more traditional and quiet while Carlisle Bay is a bit more hip and modern while. All in all our stay was wonderful and relaxing. I would recommend Curtain Bluff to anyone that is looking for a vacation that truly takes you away and makes you relax, it is a beautiful resort with excellent food and service.

Danielle Foley

East Africa Safari

I recently returned from a 17 day East Africa Safari spending a week in Tanzania and a week in Kenya. This has been my dream trip since I can remember and after 20 years finally made it! I traveled with my sister and my cousins from California and we were fortunate enough to be the only 4 in our party for game drives etc. I worked with a new company called All Africa Expeditions, the owner Albert Anson, being a past manager for Park East Safari's and the past 2 years with International Expeditions before opening his own company. Initially I had booked us with IE and Albert was the contact person so when he left to open his company I decided to stay with him. He packaged the exact same itinerary for us that we had booked with IE and I had previously sold in the past to clients on Park East and Micato.

We were not disappointed! It was the trip of a lifetime for all of us for sure. We were met at the airport in Arusha by a representative of Ranger Safari's who handled the Tanzania portion of the trip. The airport was very small and we easily obtained our visa's for Tanzania within a matter of minutes after arriving. It was a short ride to our first hotel which was called the Movairo Lodge. Check in was efficient and quick as our Ranger representative handled it for us. The Lodge is on the grounds of a working coffee plantation and a beautiful setting with all the cottages surrounded by magnificent bougainvillea's of all colors. They had a small pool as well as walking trails but being so tired we did not take full advantage. Each cottage was fully equipped with electricity and all amenities we could have needed including insect lotion, spray and flashlights. Actually all of these things were provided everywhere we went so we could have nicely omitted them from our packing. The food was and service was fine, we were off to a good start.

We were met by our guide in the morning who was with us the entire tour of Tanzania. His name was "Sulieman" and he was a gem for sure! From Arusha we went to Lake Manyara for 1 night and stayed in the first of a few Serena Lodges. We spend 2 nights at the Ngorongoro Crater Serena Lodge and had a day room in Nairobi prior to departure at the Nairobi Serena ( truly deluxe property). I could detail every property for you but I'm sure most of you know them and this would get quite lengthy! Both of the lodges had spectacular grounds set overlooking the lake and the crater. Our rooms all had balconies or patios with incredible views and again were fully equipped with everything we might need and more. The beds were quite comfortable and showers strong and good with hot water and pressure. Each lodge also provided day laundry service as well as had salon & massage amenities. The massage options were well received after some of the driving in Tanzania! The food service in the Lodges was mostly buffet with main meal choices for dinner's main course. The fruits and vegetables were marvelous and very safe to eat and certainly no one went without a meal! Each property also had a nice lounge/bar area where the views were incredible. Limited evening entertainment was provided at each facility, more than enough truly.

In between Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro Crater we spent 3 nights on the Serengeti in a mobile tent camp site. This was truly a fabulous experience and so well orchestrated. Being the beginning of the short rainy season and end of a peak season, we were the last guests to stay in this location. And we were the only guests which was very special. Prior to our arrival there had been 8 tents set up for capacity of 16 guests, this being a maximum for most of their locations. We were only 2 tents along with the lounge/bar/meal tent and the crew site. We had a crew of 8 for the 4 of us and the service was just excellent. The accommodations were way more than we anticipated from a mobile sit and we were just thrilled when we saw the flush toilets in each tent! The tents were again equipped with every conceivable amenity and the beds so very comfortable! The food was the best of anyplace we stayed, I can honestly equate it to almost any cruise line I have sailed on. The portions were moderate but more for the asking and we always had 2 options for dinner. Delicious soups were the start and we ended with deluxe desserts as well. Our breakfasts began with wake up calls by the side of our tents along with coffee or tea to get you started. Eggs, bacon, sausage, all cooked to order, just couldn't ask for more.

Our guide arranged our game drives around our wishes and we of course deferred to him. We always had at least 2 per day, some days opting for a longer morning drive and other days even full day drives for which we were packed full meals to go. We were greeted after each drive (and arrival to each site) with a cool or warm clothe to wipe our faces and a cold glass of fresh juice. Hot water for our showers was provided within 10 minutes of returning to our tents. Each night before dinner we had "happy hour" by a campfire and were served drinks of our choice along with an appetizer. Our laundry was done complimentary as well and returned each evening to us. We were walked back to our tents and made sure we had everything we needed each night including our whistles in case we needed help!

Each day in the Serengeti the animals moved a bit closer to our camp site so by the time we left they were very near by. It was so peaceful sleeping each night listening to the sounds of the wildebeest, zebra and lions in the distance. Again, we were so thrilled with the entire organization, it was very impressive and first class all the way. I think they order in which we experienced the various properties was perfect too. It just got better and better and I think by experiencing the mobile camp site before the permanent ones was the right choice. No disappointments or expectations that weren't met.

In Tanzania we did all driving to get from point to point. Some of it was very rough and long, very dusty as well. It would not be for everyone for sure but it was part of the experience and will be most helpful in selling safari for me. The habitats for all the animals were quite different from place to place and much of it would have been missed without the driving. Before I go to Kenya, let me say that we saw all of the Big 5 many times over as well as up close and personal! I have some marvelous video to prove it. The migration of the wildebeest and zebra began early from Kenya because of the weather so we were able to experience that as well. To "live" on the animals territory is certainly the experience of a lifetime, at least it was for us.

Our Ranger staff drove us to the border in Kenya where we began our next week. The border was certainly interesting and busy but again an easy time had in getting our visa's here as well. The transition from one company to the other was very painless and well handled. Our next stop was Amboseli with our guide Pilot. Our next stop was a permanent camp site called Tortillis in Amboseli. This was marvelous! The main area of check in, restaurant and lounge was overlooking a small water area constantly teaming with birds and animals. The tents were luxurious for sure each with a patio area, fully equipped with amenities, deluxe vanities and bathrooms. The lighting was excellent, beds very comfortable and the setting was marvelous. The service and meal choices were excellent as well and we had no complaints at all.

Our second and 3rd permanent camp sites were Samburu Intrepid and Mara Intrepid. The Intrepid chain of sites has been around a long time I understand and certainly are deluxe for tents! I think the amenities and tents were a bit more deluxe than Tortillis but I think the overall setting of Tortillis might have had a slight edge. Both Intrepid were set on rivers with balconies or decks overlooking the water. The set up of the tents were almost identical in each with very deluxe bathrooms and amenities. Electrical service again was full and every amenity was offered along with lovely restaurant and lounge areas. The Mara Intrepid was the only site to have a lounge with an actual television as entertainment. Not something we missed but for some would he a high point! The food in all 3 camps was for the most part buffets again with a main choice selection for dinners. The food was abundant and no one lost any weight on this trip for sure! The gift shops were very well outfitted also and service at all sites was just excellent.

We had 3 different guides for each site and certainly the terrain was very different in each place. All our guides were excellent and our game drives were incredible. Each offered a variety of options with our drives, from bush breakfasts to sundowner happy hours on the mountains or hills. If anyone thinks this was roughing it well, this experience gives new meaning to camp sites! We also did a balloon ride over the Mara as well which was quite the experience ending with a champagne breakfast served on the plains!

I almost forgot our 1 night stay at Mount Kenya Safari Club which is currently under renovations as a Fairmont Property. To say the least it is a deluxe property for sure as you expect from a Fairmont. A nice experience as I had always heard about this property and William Holden and Stephanie Powers contributions to it. Truly a magnificent place but honestly to me, would not be my choice for a safari stay. Loses something in the translation of atmosphere for me but glad to have tried it.

We also used Air Kenya in short flights within Kenya for the most part. Talk about a pleasure flying! Arriving 5 minutes to the airstrip prior to the flight arriving and taking off 5 minutes after that give new meaning to ON TIME ratings! Very courteous staff and enjoyable flights for sure. Also, we did not ever have a problem with the weight restrictions on our flights and we were all over the 33 pound restriction. I think mostly this was because our flights were not overly full either but this is something we need to be aware of for our clients, it could have been a problem for us, thankfully was not!

I could go on and on about this trip but will just say it was everything I had ever dreamed it would be and I would not hesitate to go again in a heartbeat. I'm not sure if I have a client base for safari but am certainly going to try. From the small amount of safari and area I have experienced I can see where this type of a trip can be planned to meet almost anyone' needs. I was able to see a couple of other property types and they can be quite diverse and accommodating. I'm more than happy to provide any additional detail to anyone who might need it.

One other note worthy thing. My cousin Bob has sleep apnea and uses a breathing machine at night. Arrangements were made in advance for this and as happens on any trip (never mind Africa!) these don't always work out. At our first camp site they were not aware of this need and of course being a mobile site it was not a simple matter. The staff went above and beyond while we were out on our first drive to connect an additional link to the generator to make it work. At the lodges of course this was not a problem but the camp sites are different. Each site shuts down the electricity during the night while we sleep as part of operations. If they were not able to configure their generators they instead left the power on all night for us.

Again, above and beyond for the entire trip, we have not one complaint or thing we would change. I thank Albert for helping make my dream come true, it was a perfectly planned trip! His years of experience selling Africa (and being a native helps) certainly worked for us and I would highly recommend All Africa Expeditions and will certainly use them again.

Sorry to be so long with this, hard to condense a dream trip! I'm sure I have forgotten key points, please just ask me if I can help.

Kathy Wachter

Paradisus Palma Real

I just returned from a 3 night stay at Paradisus Palma Real in Punta Cana. The airport there is pretty cool with those giant thatched roof buildings. Getting a taxi can be a bit of a hassle, you are accosted as soon as you go outside but the ride is a short half hour. The entryway and lobby of the resort are gorgeous, the hotel centers around a giant courtyard looking right through to a massive pool and great beach. We had a garden view room and it was well appointed. The beds were very nice and the maid service was unbelievable considering it was three guys making a mess in there. We made sure to take good care of her when we left. Paradisus has a main buffet and five or six restaurants which require reservations and a bit of a dress code. Not having anything other than shorts and flip flops we were restricted to the buffet which suited us fine. There is a good selection with fresh fruit and juice. The dishes themselves could be a little off, not bad per se, just not what you expect but I think that's standard in the Caribbean. Overall the staff were very warm and considerate and if you can manage a little spanish they'll appreciate it. Tips here and there are also more than welcome. This all-inclusive is pretty much all couples as well as a few wedding parties. There were only two families with kids but maybe there's more during the peak season. I talked to a bride and groom from Ohio who raved about their stay for their wedding and honeymoon. A great place for a couple who wants a beautiful setting and a nice quiet vacation (except a show every night and a small casino almost nothing at night)

Peter Cacciari

Report on the World

Columbus may have discovered America, but I have discovered THE WORLD. As soon as you step on the gangplank and you
are greeted by Dennis, who has been with the line since its inception, you know that you have entered a different sphere, a planet
where everything is gentle and soft. Each and every member of the staff/the crew is there for you - service with a smile - and what
smiles! There are 250 employees no matter how many residents/guests are sailing. On our cruise we were about 125. Speaking
to the son of one of the residents, he told us that he tries to sail as often as possible (his parents own a 3-bedroom apartment on board)
and the maximum guests on board that he has experienced have been around 350.

Pauline and I each had a Studio Apartment, with clean lines, built for the ultimate efficiency. There is a sitting area and a desk
and a delightful balcony. One architectural/designer special feature that I have never experienced on any other vessel was a big picture
window in the bathroom that looks into the cabin area and on to the balcony and on to the sea. So one can shower, or while putting
makeup on, look out and watch the seas, the skies with varying colours especially at sunset. Or you can draw the shades closed
electrically when in Port.

We did a site of the 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments. And the one thing they all have in common is, when you walk in the front door
you enter into amazing brightness. Yes, the sun was shining when we were doing our site, but with the miles of deck space
these larger apartments have, I cannot envision any one of them ever being dark. Each bedroom has its own bathroom. The
Master has a separate tub and shower. Top designers, i.e. Nina Campbell, Hirsch Bedner, JP Molyneux and TMT Design have
been the decorators and of course each individual owner has put his/her stamp on their own residence. When renting, one can
request the preferred type of decor. From delightful modern, to English country, to Italianette, lots of choices. These larger
apartments have a great kitchen with very well hidden washer and dryer.

Dining is pure delight. Four diningrooms and a deli. Food delicious and lovely service. Activities on board abound. There is a great
tennis court. The golfers find putting greens, chipping areas, a simulator, and driving range. The Sports and Golf Director
is available for lessons and happy to arrange private golf trips to the best golf courses all over the world. Same can be done
for the tennis player. There is a gym, a beautiful outdoor pool and indoor pool as well. The Banyan Tree Spa is divine. I
had the best massage I have ever had. The spa has a jacuzzi, steam baths and saunas. There are no "shows" but each night
at cocktail hour and after dinner, there is a variety of piano and violin music, jazz, a wonderful singer, and, when in Port you do
get excellent local talent to perform as well. The library is great with excellent variety of books and DVDs. Library has a lovely
seating area. Pauline and I were most fortunate to have attended a cocktail party where their guest Chef, Serge Bottelli (who manages
La Coquille Restaurant and oversees the cuisine at Tuckers Point Club in Bermuda, where he made the most amazing hors d'oeuvres
(accompanied by lovely champagne of course) Serge has been profiled on Discovery Channel's "Great Chefs of the World".
Serge also gave a cooking demonstration where we got to sample all the delicious dishes (accompanied by wine of course). He
was charming and very funny. The World always arranges to have such special features on board.

Those on board have the choice of full privacy in their own apartment, or they have friends over for dinner, get together around the
pool, make reservations in one of the restaurants to dine together, etc., just like one would do on land. One can see the existing
camaraderie amongst the owners. And we found they were very open to meet the new "faces". We had great chats with them
and enjoyed listening to the stories of their various sailings. Most spend 4 months and more on board. It is only The World that
will spend 2, 3, 4 days and more, depending on destination, at Port. Side trips can be taken knowing your floating home is waiting for you when
you return - back to the "other" WORLD.


Luisa McGrath
Travel Exchange - A Virtuoso Agency
2 Sconset Square
Westport, Ct. 06880
203-221-3500

Paris Oct 25-28, 2008

I have recently returned from a quick trip to Paris. My trip started by flying the new airline OpenSkies. I had business class from New York to Paris and it was very nice. All the seats in business class lay completely flat. There is a good selection of movies, tv shows and games and the service was excellent. We flew into Orly airport and since it is a smaller airport than CDG we quickly made our way out of there.

Once we arrived in Paris we made our way over to Le Meurice. I had a deluxe room at Le Meurice. It was an elegant room with a courtyard view and spacious marble bathroom.
Many of the rooms have views of the Tuileries. The Belle Etoile Suite on the seventh floor is fabulous and has panoramic views of just about all of Paris. Le Meurice has beautiful banquet facilities, two restaurants, and a great bar. It also has a one of a kind frosted mirror in the lobby that guests can write on. I did leave my handprint on it.... it does get wiped out though....

View from the top of Le Meurice

In the afternoon we take a bike tour of Paris with Fat Bike Company http://fattirebiketours.com/Paris. The ride lasted about 2 hours and took us all around the city but was a very easy ride. Our guide would stop frequently to give us some history about the city. He was very knowledgeable and the tour was great. After the tour we had dinner at a nice local restaurant, L'Ardoise. It was a very small restaurant but the food was good. .

The next day we went over to Plaza Athenee and checked into our Junior Suites. The hotel has a great location. They have modern and traditional rooms and some have views of the Eiffel Tower. There is a Dior Spa, a wine cellar where private tasting can be arranged and in the winter their courtyard has ice skating for their guests. We had a wonderful dinner at the hotel and drinks at their very modern and hip bar.

My Room

The following day we were back to the airport for our flight home. This time we had Prem + class on OpenSkies. Each seat has plenty of legroom, reclines 140 degrees and has a personal entertainment system with the same movies as Business Class. The service was again excellent and the time passed very quickly.

All in all it was an excellent trip and I hope to return to Paris soon.