Recommend March 2014 - (Page 14)

for agents only Again, Blue Diamond has not ﬁnalized its agent commission structures and other incentives, but the announcement is imminent. sandals lasource grenada Top: Pointe Suite at Sandals LaSource Grenada. Above: Accommodations at Royalton Punta Cana. royalton punta cana This All-In Luxury resort caters to both families and couples. Between that and its more upscale amenities, it has a more sophisticated vibe. selling points It's directly on Bavaro Beach, and to reiterate the obvious, Punta Cana's beaches are beyond merely sublime. All rooms and suites have balconies/patios, electronic gizmos, and Dreambeds made exclusively for Royalton Resorts. (The Royalton also offers complimentary WiFi and phone calls/texting to North America.) Guests enjoy reservations-free dining at 11 restaurants, from a steakhouse to a trattoria to a tapas bar. The 10 bars range from swank lounges to swim-up bars to a sports bar that guarantees airings of all major North American sporting events. There's a theater and a nightclub, too. Not only is there a day camp, but guests may use Memory Splash's grand water park. Tennis, non-motorized watersports, ﬁtness classes in and outside the gym, and many activities are included. The adultsonly pool is one more reason why couples will be happier here than at Memories. Rooms start at $258.05 (two adults dbl), or $386.75 for a family of four, which is not dramatically higher than the rates for Memories, so clients may well be open to the idea of moving up to the Royalton. 14 march 2014 12-14 CB Allinc.indd 14 This property was a sad sight after Hurricane Ivan lowered the boom in 2004. The 100-unit sister resort of LeSport The BodyHoliday (Saint Lucia), Ivan forced it to close, and it didn't reopen until 2008, just in time for the recession. On Dec. 21, LaSource reopened as a 231-unit Sandals-the ﬁrst Sandals Resorts International (SRI) property-on stunning Grenada, which has historically lacked internationally managed hotels. selling points The new 3-village LaSource "represents the most magniﬁcent architecture we have ever created," says SRI chair Gordon "Butch" Stewart. "It...sets a new standard for the luxury all-inclusive vacation experience." The variety of rooms is formidable, too, yet every unit has tasteful, contemporary furniture, marble ﬂoors, and stunning baths. Pink Gin Village, closest to the beach, has 70 oceanfront rooms, including walkout rooms, and 30 jr. suites. Rates start at $258 pp, and, of course, Sandals can package ﬂights or air credits. (Pink Gin also houses a Red Lane Spa, a zero-entry inﬁnity pool, and an open-air "Living Room" with a bar, billiards, ping-pong and more.) The new 5-story Italian Village buildings include 1-bedroom, split-level suites with spacious baths and Japanese-style soaking tubs (from $554 pp), and extravagant suites with butler pantries, claw-foot bathtubs, etc. Lodgings at South Seas Village, the farthest from the beach, range from Premium Rooms with verandahs (from $258 pp) to Rondoval Suites (each with a 61-inch round tub, indoor and outdoor shower, private pool and jacuzzi) to Millionaire Suites featuring glass tile plunge pools, 65-inch TVs, private entrances, etc. (from $719 pp). The new LaSource has nine dining venues, including Sandals' ﬁrst steakhouse, both sushi and teppanyaki restaurants, a Mediterranean beach bar, and French, Italian, and Caribbean restaurants, too. The indoor/outdoor Wellness Center includes a sparkling new gym, venues for ﬁtness classes, waterfalls, etc. Partner Island Routes (islandroutes.com) can help guests explore the Spice Island's unspoiled forest preserves, rural communities, historic buildings, dive sites, and more. for agents only As always, Sandals offers incentives including its Certiﬁed Sandals Specialists program, Preferred Sandals Agency partnership, Chairman's Royal Club, and Travel Agent Portal with co-branded site. ● Archived related articles (available on recommend.com/magazine/issue-archive): Club Med Punta Cana (September 2013) contact information Breathless Punta Cana Resort & Spa: (855) 652-7328; breathlessresorts.com or amragents.net Memories Splash Punta Cana Resort & Casino: (855) 744-8372; memoriesresorts.com Royalton Punta Cana: (855) 744-8372; royaltonresorts.com Sandals LaSource Grenada: (888) 726-3257; sandals.com or sandals.com/tas recommend.com 2/19/14 2:36 PM http://www.islandroutes.com http://www.recommend.com/magazine/issue-archive http://www.breathlessresorts.com http://www.amragents.net http://www.memoriesresorts.com http://www.royaltonresorts.com http://www.sandals.com http://www.sandals.com/tas http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend March 2014

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: ME by Melia
Tour Talk: MLT Vacations
The All-Inclusive Rundown
Iberostar's Rose Hall Resorts, Jamaica
RIU Palace Mexico
What's New in Cancun & Riviera Maya
Great Britain Travel Planner
Turkish Delights
Cosmopolitan South Africa
Riveting Rhode Island
Okinawa: To Visit is to Love It
Un-Cruise Adventures' S.S. Legacy
Alaska

Recommend March 2014