Recommend March 2012 - (Page 40)

Beaches beaches.com; (888) BEACHES Ambiance: Families are front and center at any of the four beachfront Beaches resorts—part of the Sandals Resorts International family—in the Caribbean, with spacious family-friendly accommodations to ﬁt any budget, and with each age group catered to, with nannies, kids’ camps and teen- and tween-friendly activities, as well as adult goodies. Special Inclusions: Every resort offers gourmet specialty dining; premium brand beverages, including wines from Beringer Vineyards; a wide array of land and watersports, including snorkeling and scuba for certiﬁed divers, airport transfers and even gratuities. Kids will love the water parks; XBOX 360 Game Garages; the Caribbean Adventure with Sesame Street; the aquathemed nightclub, Liquid; the Scratch DJ Academy; and teen hangout, Trench Town. Extras/Upgrades: Butler service; Red Lane Spa, featuring services and treatments inspired by the region; Beaches Weddings by Martha Stewart; tee time, including some of Jamaica’s most challenging courses if staying at Beaches Boscobel; and adventure tours, including 4x4 off-road safaris. Target Clientele: Families (including reunions), brides/grooms and newlyweds. Destinations: Jamaica, Turks & Caicos Signature Property: Beaches Turks & Caicos, with a 45,000-sq.-ft. waterpark; three villages, boasting the architecture and ambiance of Italy, France and the Caribbean; a 12-mile beach lapped by clear turquoise waters, 16 international restaurants, 12 bars and an array of renovations throughout the resort, including guestroom upgrades. Stand-outs These resorts might not be the big fish in the all-inclusive pond, but because of their all-inclusive offerings and great ambiance they made our “must-check-it-out” list. We’d love to hear about your favorite traditional resorts offering an all-inclusive option. Drop us a line at agentspeak@recommend.com. Grand Resorts at Cap Cana grandresortsatcapcana.com; (866) 855-4886 Ambiance: Stunning and high-end accommodations on an exclusive retreat in Punta Cana featuring white beaches, a turquoise sea, soaring cliffs and a pristine forest. Special Inclusions: Here, guests can take advantage of all-inclusive options at Fishing Lodge and Sanctuary: luxurious accommodations, all restaurant and room service meals, all beverages and cocktails, and all resort-based activities. Extras/Upgrades: At Fishing Lodge, guests have access to a secluded beach, two themed restaurants, three bars, four pools, and a Dominican-style stone wedding chapel, while at Sanctuary, they can indulge at five restaurants, five pools and a luxury spa. Target Clientele: Families, couples, bridges/grooms and honeymooners. Destination: Dominican Republic Hacienda Tres Rios haciendatresrios.com; (800) 494-9173 Ambiance: A luxurious eco-friendly retreat that revels in area mangroves and cenotes to offer a close-to-nature experience. Special Inclusions: Meals and drinks, including 24-hour room service, plus kids’ club, cooking classes, nature hikes, evening entertainment, daytime activities. Extras/Upgrades: Pillow menu, free WiFi, complimentary yoga, kayaking and snorkeling in the property’s rivers and cenotes, meditation and zumba classes. Yacht rental and babysitting services available for an extra fee. Target Clientele: Equally enticing for adults and kids. Destination: Riviera Maya Hotel Marina El Cid Spa & Beach Resort elcid.com; (866) 796-5571 Ambiance: Close to Cancun and closer still to Puerto Morelos, this resort offers a range of room and suite options in warm hues and a convenient onsite marina for offshore excursions. Special Inclusions: Meals and beverages, 24-hour room service, stocked mini-bar, nonmotorized watersports, kids’ club, daily activities and nightly shows. Extras/Upgrades: Platinum Club Service includes guaranteed oceanfront or ocean view accommodations, dedicated area with palapa huts, butler service, aromatherapy menu, and special turn-down service. Target Clientele: Families and couples. Destination: Riviera Maya Sandals sandals.com; (800) SANDALS Ambiance: Romance is the focus of any stay at the 14 Sandals Resorts throughout the Caribbean. Their beachfront locations and varied decor includes British Colonial and Caribbean style featuring accommodations in a range of categories and varied sized properties. All are Green Globe certiﬁed. Special Inclusions: Premium brand wine and spirits including wines by Beringer Vineyards and El Dorado Rum, scuba for certiﬁed divers, and airport transfers. On Jamaica and Saint Lucia, guests have exchange privileges at other properties. Golf included in select properties in Jamaica and available for an extra fee at Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma. Extras/Upgrades: Butler service, Sandals Weddings by Martha Stewart, spa treatments, excursions, private photo sessions, candlelight dinners and special anniversary/birthday celebrations. Target Clientele: Couples, brides/grooms and newlyweds. Destinations: Antigua, The Bahamas, Jamaica, Saint Lucia Signature Property: Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas, is the newest Sandals property and it recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation. It has 245 beachfront villas and suites, a Greg Norman-designed championship golf course, full service marina, and seven restaurants. Shoutout: The Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts, with beachfront locations in Jamaica and Antigua, are the brand’s affordable option offering up colorful accommodations and an all-inclusive plan that includes accommodations, unlimited drinks, entertainment, all meals, watersports and tips and gratuities. Number of properties indicated by brand is limited to the Caribbean & Mexico. A22 march 2012 Marival Residences & World Spa marivalresidences.com; (877) 769-7376 Ambiance: Modern oceanview residences—complete with kitchens and laundry rooms—in an intimate and deluxe setting. Special Inclusions: Beverages and a la carte meals in gourmet restaurants, featured house wines at wine bar, 24-hour room service, soft drinks and beer in residences, VIP Beach Club with food and beach concierge service, unlimited greens fees at any of three area golf courses and a selection of area tours that includes swimming with dolphins and ziplining. Extras/Upgrades: Plunge pools in penthouses, complimentary use of gym and tennis courts. Private in-residence meals prepared by Marival’s chef available with an additional charge. Target Clientele: Families, friends and couples. Destination: Riviera Nayarit Villa Premiere Hotel & Spa premiereonline.com.mx; (877) 886-9176 Ambiance: At this adults-only retreat, the open-air concept comes sprinkled with the gentle sounds of fountains and all suites come with private balconies with ocean views. Special Inclusions: Stress-relief delights such as a massage upon arrival, yoga and meditation sunrise classes on the water’s edge, personal butler, and cocktail and cooking preparations with the chef, as well as a la carte dining at three restaurants and drinks at a swim-up pool bar. Extras/Upgrades: Spa, tours of the local area, scuba diving and golf. Target Clientele: Adults (16 and over), brides/grooms and honeymooners. Destination: Puerto Vallarta recommend.com http://www.beaches.com http://www.grandresortsatcapcana.com http://www.haciendatresrios.com http://www.elcid.com http://www.sandals.com http://www.marivalresidences.com http://premiereonline.com.mx

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend March 2012

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Vikram Chatwal Hotels
Tour Talk: SITA World Tours
From Zambia to Zimbabwe
Small Ship Cruising in the U.S.
All-Inclusive Resort Guide: The Caribbean & Mexico
Alaska: New Action in an Old World
Sandpearl Resort, Clearwater, Florida
European River Cruising 2012
Pantanal: The Brazilian Serengeti

Recommend March 2012