We recently stayed at Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera May – Adults Only. The ride to the resort was a quick 15 minutes and we had the nonstop transfers so it was great. I always recommend the nonstop or private transfers to speed up the arrival time at the resort.

• Check-in was easy and quick, and you are greeted with a flip-flop margarita Popsicle. It tasted awful, but was cold and refreshing. Our rooms were ready when we arrived.  The bellman that took us to our room did a great job of explaining the property and how things worked with their “different” all-inclusive provisions.  The main bar had an area labeled “Connoisseur Collection”.  These were all top shelf liquor and there was an extra charge for these brands.  This was not offered at all bars and the cost varied by brand.  They seemed to be from $8.00 and up for a single shot.
• The room that we had was fabulous. It was an Oceanfront Paradise Studio, and I would highly recommend this room. We were in room 503 and it was on the top floor (so no noise above), and all we saw from the balcony was the ocean.  It was perfect.
• The beach or lack of a beach could be huge for some. I knew there was no beach and we are big pool people, so it was perfect for us. They have the access to what was the beach blocked off and go down the steps to the beach at your own risk.  You literally walk off of the step and into the water, unless it is low tide, then there might be a couple of inches of sand, but that is it.  We saw maybe 5 people in swimming in the water the entire week.
• The mini bar in the room only had Water in it. When you check in they give you a card with points on it. These points are based on the number of nights that you are there and the room category.  These points are to be used in the Mercantile to purchase items for your mini bar.  They had pop, beer, power aid, etc. that you could purchase, along with a few snack of chips, candy and cookies.  The also had selections of wine and liquor that could be bought, but in the week we were there, they only offered wine and Rum to be purchased with the points.  I was told that the selection varies, but we had taken our own bottle so we did not need to buy anything for a beverage.  I will say that once you check out your points are gone, so make sure you spend them prior to checking out that day.  
• Food – There were four restaurants for dinner. The Boathouse – Buffet, Landshark - American Bar food with wings, Ribs Burgers etc.  Frank & Lola’s – Italian.  Loved the Rood burning Pizza, but the other meals were just ok.  JWB Steakhouse – We were really excited for this one, since they have a meat sommelier and my daughter loves to grill, so she was excited experience this.  There are 3 cuts that are included or you could purchase dry aged cuts of meat to cook, but the cost started at $75.00 for the lowest cut.  There was a “License to Chill Bar & Grill that served tacos, salads and burgers and Hot Dogs and this used by many for lunch while at the pool.   All in all the food was good; it just could have been served warmer.
• Show/Entertainment – We did one show and it was just dancing and singing. They had 2 – 3 shows each week and the rest of the entertainment were bands at Landsharks or solo entertainment at the main bar. This was perfect for us as we are not big on the shows.
• Fitness Center was decent size (2000 Sq Ft) with updated equipment, and you could see many used the outdoor terrace for yoga.

The vibe here is relaxation and “no worries”.  With the Jimmy Buffet theme being emphasized throughout the resort, it creates a fun atmosphere for the 38 – up age bracket.  This small resort is easy to get around and is very handicapped friendly.  All in all it was a great week!

Sandals Royal Caribbean

I had been to this resort many years ago and there were some very nice changes to the property. They replaced an old building with the Sandringham Building, with great views and upgraded amenities. Not much of the British feel in these rooms. All of these rooms had tranquility tubs in the balcony with glass walled balconies. The Caribbean Village is completely under construction. They have a wall built near the lobby so you are not able to get over to look at anything, but we were promised some “great things” will be happing there, to be announced in 2021. The villas and bungalow were fabulous. Transportation is readily available to these and they are full service if you really don’t want to leave. They are very difficult to book for more than 3 nights, but if you book them make sure you do them at the end of the stay to avoid disappointment in the other room categories.

Keep in mind that only two buildings have elevators. We did see most all of the rooms on our tour and it seems that more and more rooms are becoming butler rooms. I would say at least half of the travelers had butler rooms. I asked a few of them as they booked there return trip if they were booking the butler again and they said absolutely. The personal attention made the difference in the trip. The one day that we spent at the pool, there were only 2 of us couples that did not have butlers. We had Concierge as we have at all of our Sandals stays and I did not feel that it was worth it this time. Room service twice and dinner reservations are really all that we used them for. It seemed like at the other Sandals resorts it seemed to us that we had notes periodically in the rooms along with small plates with pastries or snacks delivered to the room and now the only liquor that will be in the room are the local brands. There is an upcharge for all others. This was different than in the past.

Changes at the property due to COVID are apparent:

• They are not holding any indoor functions. All entertainment and activities are now outside.
• A big plus to us was that the pool chairs are spread out. You could have put 4 chairs in between ours and the next one.
• Masks were mandatory if you were going into an office or shop. Other than that you did not see many with them on.
• Hand sanitizer is suggested in an out of all buildings and restaurants.
• The only buffet was at breakfast where they had you a plate to hold and they walk with you to serve your food to you.
• All staff is required to wear masks at all times with the exception of the singers.

We love Jamaica. It was great to get back this year and somewhat of a normal vacation! 

My experience in Turks & Caicos was amazing with Delta Vacations! We visited Wymara Resort and Villas,The Sands at Grace Bay, The Shore Club and The Palms.

The Sands at Grace Bay resort had a more condominium feel to the property. The rooms were very spacious with huge screened in balcony/patios with multiple pieces of furniture - loungers, table and chairs. This would be a great resort for families. With the three properties of The Shore Club, The Palms and The Sands you have signing privileges so it makes it easy to explore the other properties with no hassle. We have had several clients stay at The Sands at Grace Bay - all report a very positive experience.

 • In December the resort will be 21 years old. Last soft good renovation was in 2016. Lobby has minor renovations currently moving the convenience store to the lobby. Vanities will be updated in Jan and Feb 2020.
• Hospitality room in case the rooms are not ready when you arrive.
• Spa for basic treatments but I would go to the Palms for the better spa experience.
• There are six buildings with building #3 being the closest to the beach and the better views. Only building #3 has an elevator, the rest do not. The other buildings are two-stories.
• Beautiful beach with plenty of lounge chairs. The are 21 Palapyas and they are all complimentary. There is beach service from Hemmingway and the prices are pretty reasonable for Turks.
• There are two small pools near a hot Tub in a tropical setting. This gives a lot of privacy. The larger main pool also has a kiddie pool and is the closest pool to the restaurant and the beach. There are also many lounge chairs at this pool.

This was a very “comfortable” resort. Not high end, but it did have nice furnishings. I think this would be a great option for multiple couples or a family that want the benefits of cooking.

I recently returned from a 11-day Italy and Greek Isles cruise. What a fabulous itinerary this is. The ports that I was able to explore in Greece were Santorini, Athens, Mykonos, Rhodes and Chania. In Italy we stopped at Civitavecchia (Rome), Messina, Naples and Florence. We were able to do one stop in Malta at Valletta. What a beautiful itinerary to get a taste of the Mediterranean. I was able to explore Rome a little more in depth with a three night hotel stay after the cruise. What a magnificent city.

Some of the highlights were St. Peters Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, the Coliseum, the Spanish steps, Trevi Fountain and we even did a Terrace top Pasta Making and Wine Tasting class. This was definitely a highlight of the stay in Rome. I sailed on the Norwegian Jade and I truly fell that a cruise is a great way to get to so many of these ports in a short time.

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience in Paris and visited several hotels.  My favorite was Sofitel Arc De Triomphe. This property is in a great location near the Arc De Triomphe and a 5 minute walk to the Champs- Elysees.  The Metro Stop is Etoile or George V and then a 10 minute walk to the hotel.  Is has a very welcoming lobby and reception area and a quaint bar serving light fare just as you enter.  This hotel has a “hip” vibe and it is very warm colors.  Great artwork!

Central Travel Amenities include:
   Macaroon and fruit plate
   Food & Beverage credit 50.00 Euro
   Upgrade based on availability
   Early check in / late check out based on availability

The hotel has 124 rooms and 5 meeting rooms.  The 66 deluxe rooms are beautiful, modern and cozy colors.  Most have king beds but there are a few with twins. All offer a large double shower and a lot of storage.  The 31 Junior suite are spacious and inviting with a soaker tub and double walk in shower.  They also offer an apartment with a very spacious room with closed off living area for the kids sleeping.  Separate ½ bath also for the living area.  This would be a great family room.The restaurant is open for breakfast from 630am – 1000am and then it turns into lunch and is open until 11 pm.  There is also a continental breakfast served at the bar in the lobby. (14 euro)

General thoughts on Paris:
Our tour by Walks (which is Signature) of Notre Dame, Saint Chapelle (stain glass is a must see) and the Concierge was excellent.  Violet, our tour guide, was extremely knowledgeable, personable and funny.  We all learned so much on the tour and would recommend it to anyone.  Walking tours are great way to see the sights and plan ahead!  Max on this tour is 15 and have headsets to hear the guide.

The metro is easy to use for major tourist sights, but difficult to use for smaller areas.  Uber was relatively inexpensive and much easier to get around.  A private transfer to Charles de Gaulle is the ONLY way to go.  The traffic was crazy and our driver was great.  Allow every bit of 3 hours with security tight and it does take time to get through it all.

Stop and enjoy a pastry and coffee.  Taste Paris and take in sights that are like no other!

As one of Central Travel’s top producers for Delta Vacations, I was part of an incentive award trip this January to the Riviera Maya.  We did site inspections at Ocean Riviera Paradise, Hotel Xcaret, Unico 20° 87°, Zoetry Paraiso De La Bonita, Generations Riviera Maya, by Karisma and our host resort was the beautiful Grand Velas Riviera Maya.  All resorts were 4.5 – 5 Star properties and we saw all room categories in each resort.  There is certainly something for everyone in the Riviera Maya!

I must admit, my favorite was the Grand Velas. There are three different sections of the resort and each section has its own character.   

Grand Class Section – Adults Only
We were fortunate enough to stay in this section and the rooms are absolutely fabulous and the balconies are amazing - each, with their own plunge pool, beach bed, table, and chairs.  With a great room service selection, this was a popular spot for me for breakfast each morning.  The bathrooms were dream bathrooms, with a Jacuzzi tub for two and a shower large enough for a party of six.  The walk-in closet added a nice touch to give an elegant feel to the room.

Ambassador Section – Family
This was a much more lively section and had a very large pool.  There were not a lot of activities going on while we were at the pool, but I think much of that was due to the weather.   There were several restaurant options here for the daytime and a nice selection for dinner.  Here we ate at Lucca’s Italian and again the food was very good.  Beach front resort connected to the Grand Class section.

Zen Grand Section – Family
This section is accessible by shuttle from the Grand and Ambassador class and this is where the SPA is located.  This is a family-friendly property and gives you the feel of being in the middle of a jungle.  Good restaurant options here also and this evening we ate at the Sen Lin restaurant, which was Asian Fusion.  This was a large property and the access to the beach would be by shuttle to the Ambassador.

Service, food and beverage and the atmosphere were amazing at Grand Velas - I'd be happy to assist you with your Riviera Maya retreat!

I traveled at the beginning of 2014 to Sandals Whitehouse Resort in Jamaica! 

Why Choose Sandals Whitehouse Resort? If you want to experience an award-winning, all-beachfront oasis in the heart of a 500-acre nature preserve on the undiscovered South Coast of Jamaica, stay at Sandals Whitehouse. Perched along a pristine 2-mile stretch of alabaster beach, this impressive resort features all rooms and suites set directly on the beach. Designed with European influences, its architecture including the Grand Piazza pay homage to the romantic cultures of the Netherlands, France & Italy.

We stayed in the Italian section on the fourth floor which provided beautiful views of the beach.  The Italian building is the closest building to the large pool and most of the dining options.  Although with the great beach at this property it is nice to walk from one end to the other on the beach.

There are seven scintillating gourmet restaurants to choose from, each waiting to delight and surprise you. It's a global culinary extravaganza – and you'll never even have to leave to resort to enjoy it all. Our favorite was Eleanor's - Caribbean cuisine with white-glove service which spoils you royally amidst surroundings that transport you back to the old plantation houses of yesteryear Jamaica- complete with a turning waterwheel and a stone-enclosed fireplace.

Sandals Royal Caribbean and Private Island 
I have recently returned from another great vacation in Jamaica at Sandals Royal Caribbean and Private Island.  This awesome trip started with the Sandals lounge at the airport and followed through with a great experience up until the end.  This location is great for those who do not want to venture out on the island for the longer transfer times from the airport.  This is a great resort for a destination wedding!  And like all of the other Sandals properties has many Luxury Inclusive amenities.

We stayed in an ocean view room in the Kensington Gardens and we loved the solitude.  20 feet from our room was a beautiful pool to relax in.  Minutes away on the resort's private offshore island, the mysteries of the Orient unfold in a secluded natural setting where casual poolside and beachside pleasures beckon by day, while chic parties, an authentic Thai restaurant, and island-style extravaganzas invite excitement by night.

The Greenbrier is an award-winning resort located in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. As a National Historic landmark, The Greenbrier's classic architecture, exquisite interior design, carefully sculpted landscape, impeccable service and outstanding amenities have hosted distinguished guests from around the world since 1778. Today, The Greenbrier invites a new generation to come out and play. Enjoy relaxing pastimes, start treasured traditions, or set out on an amazing adventure together. You'll find endless vacation possibilities at The Greenbrier.  

I was fortunate enough to travel with an incentive group to this property.  I can’t say enough about this property.  The historical aspects of the resort and the bunker make the trip well worth the while, not to mention the beautiful infinity pool overlooking the Allegheny Mountains, or the 3 award winning golf courses on the property.  The Spa, the tennis facility and the activities could keep you busy for a week.  This is a must visit property and should be added to everyone’s bucket list.