Sometimes travel is all about the logistics. I wanted to visit Cartagena, Columbia and we were in Iquitos, Peru. I knew we would have to head back to Lima to catch any flight, but there was nothing direct to Cartagena. I figured we’d spend a bit of time in Bogotá since we had to connect there anyway. Bogotá was well worth the stop. We hired a guide and spent the morning exploring a bit before heading up to Monserrate. You take a cable car up to the top and from there---on a clear day, which luckily, we had---you can take in sweeping views of Bogotá. You could truly see for miles and miles. There is a church on the hill, along with a few restaurants. After heading back down, we headed out to see some of the famous (or infamous?) street art. There was a huge controversy after police in Bogotá killed a street artist in 2011—creating graffiti was illegal, but the shooting caused condemnation from around the world and subsequently, Bogotá decriminalized street art (aka: graffiti). Now the roads are lined with beautiful pieces of street art and there are blocks in the city center where there is one piece after another. Most of the art is very professionally done and is beautiful. We were admiring the art en route to Plaza Bolívar, the main square of Bogotá. The Primary Cathedral is here, along with the Palace of Justice and the National Capital. It is like many town squares in that it is also a place to gather---there were some peaceful protests happening when we were there and also people simply relaxing or having a snack from one of the food carts. The city center is considered to be less safe after dark, so we headed back to our hotel that was about 15 minutes outside of the city center. I needed a SIM card for my phone so I could use it in Columbia and we headed to a shopping mall. It looked like any mall in the US with well-known stores all around with some local stores mixed in. We headed to Cartagena the next morning. The weather had been pleasant in Bogotá, but as soon as we landed in Cartagena, it was like walking into a sauna. Hot and humid and it stays that way much of the year. We stayed in the Old Town and absolutely loved our hotel, Casa San Agustin. It was in a perfect location to walk the old city (it is within the old city walls). One of the reasons I wanted to visit Cartagena was that I wanted to visit a treehouse resort on the ocean about an hour or so outside of the city called Las Islas. The driver picked us up for the journey (you can also take a boat or helicopter to the resort) and within about 30 minutes, we were basically in the middle of nowhere. As we were approaching the resort, there is a little town and the kids all seemed to be running a little tourist trap scheme----they would hold up a rope across the dirt roadway and wouldn’t let the vehicle pass until you paid a “tax”. They kids were maybe 8 or 9 years old and our driver just laughed at them and paid them a few cents. It seemed pretty harmless and we could certainly afford their “tax”. This happened 3 times before we came to the gate for the resort. When we were leaving the resort, with a different driver, this little game seemed a bit scarier as the kids were more like 18 and weren’t happy with a few cents. Our driver was also not in the mood to humor them and just tried to drive into/over the rope. The 3 checkpoints had also turned into more like 10 and the further out we got, the tougher the “kids” looked. It was a sad experience as I’m sure the people living in this village don’t have much. I felt like the resort could organize ways to support the community and offer opportunities for economic development and/or jobs. I know I would have contributed to a fund that would help this village and its residents survive or purchased local artisan items. Many hotels speak about sustainability or responsible development in terms of the environment, and while that is very important, I think we need to encourage more hotels to think more broadly. Now back to the travel details…the resort itself was a really interesting concept. The treehouses aren’t really treehouse as they aren’t attached to a tree, but they are built to give the impression that you are in a treehouse high up in the trees. If you read my blog post about the Peruvian Amazon, you know this wasn’t my first treehouse this trip. There are very few similarities between the two experiences other than having beautiful views. At this resort, there was air conditioning, internet and a bidet toilet---so a few more creature comforts than in the Amazon The water for the shower was still pretty chilly (room temp at best), but it was so warm outside, that wasn’t a huge problem. We also had a beautiful deck with outdoor furniture overlooking the ocean. The outdoor soaking tub seemed to just collect leaves and was quite dirty---so not exactly a perk. There were several included activities at Las Islas---from star gazing using the on-site large telescope (too cloudy each night for this to happen while we were there) to swimming in bioluminescent waters---a cool experience. The beach is small at the resort, but they have a nearby island that they have turned into a beach club---a boat takes you back and forth throughout the day. After a few days, we were ready to join civilization again. To line up with our next flights (back to the logistics….) we had to spend another night in Cartagena. We stayed in the new part of the city right on Boca Grande beach. The views from our room were beautiful. The experience on the beach itself was very hectic and a bit dirty. There were vendors trying to sell you everything under the sun as you walked and it was quite crowded (many of the COVID restrictions had recently been lifted). After an hour or so of walking around, we were mentally exhausted….having to be on alert and try to nicely say “no, gracias” about 100 times takes a toll. The next morning we were off to Panama City. More on that travel later….
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I have wanted to see the Amazon for a long time, but I always imagined seeing it in Brazil. However when we had the opportunity to see the Peruvian Amazon we jumped at the opportunity. My husband did some research and found the pink dolphins are easier to see in Peru---that was his main reason for wanting to go (now you are wondering why I didn't lead with a pink dolphin photo...more on that in a bit). We flew from Cusco to Lima to Iquitos for the start of our journey. The drive into Iquitos was more like India, especially after being in Lima and Cusco. More poverty, more tuk-tuks than cars (and more than we had seen elsewhere….) and generally more chaos. The buses looked like "chicken buses" and our guide, Willie , said they are made out of wood with just a thin covering of metal. Very colorful. The drive to town took about 30 minutes and we were tired even though it was only 6pm or so. It was very hot and humid…. The next morning we met Willie again and walked down to the Malecon….a walkway near the Amazon. It sounds better than it looks :) Iquitos has seen better days. The rubber boon of the early 1900’s was its heyday and some of the architecture is still there, but mostly not in great condition. An old beautiful hotel with European tiles looks ok from the outside, but Willie said the inside is not in good shape and is currently used for military offices. Willie was very conscious of our safety and didn’t want us to take our cell phone out for fear it would be stolen. We walked around the old part of town and saw the Iron House….made by Eiffel...the creator of the Eiffel Tower. Story is it was supposed to go to Bolivia, but the water level was too low to take it on the Amazon, so it stayed in Iquitos. We walked to the market of Belen and it was a bit crazy…but not more so than any other market we have seen in Asia or elsewhere. Willie said not to take photos, so we didn’t. He took us upstairs of the main building (most booths were out in the street) and he showed us all of the things that should not be there….like jaguar skins and turtle eggs. There were even live turtles people were selling for meat to eat. It always makes me feel uncomfortable and I want to save everything that is still alive. The upstairs also had shaman healing items like potions and ointments, etc. The market also had the usual assortment of fruits and veg in addition to the meat and other exotic items. We took a tuk tuk to get back towards our hotel and Willie took us to an old steamer ship---it is currently on dry land as it is dry season, but in the wet season, the Amazon rises high enough for the ship to be in water---we are talking like 100+feet difference in where water goes. The steamer ship had exhibits on the rubber boon and how terrible it was for the indigenous people. Even now, the area around the Amazon is a shanty town where houses are built on stilts since the water level changes so much. The government will give you a metal roof which is better than I’ve seen elsewhere, but the structures are still very basic and there is no plumbing. The areas outside of town are similar. After our tour, we were soaked in sweat---it was so hot and humid! We sat in the a/c, ate dinner and got ready to leave the next morning for the lodge further down in the Amazon. We knew this would be our last chance for a/c in awhile so we savored every moment :) We arrived at a small shack along the river and walked down a steep incline to board a wooden boat---there were about 10 seats and the windows on the sides could open. It was a peaceful journey and we even saw some dolphin at a distance. Only a part of the trip was actually on the Amazon and Treehouse (where we stayed) is on another river about 20-30 minutes from the “real” Amazon. All of the rivers feed into the Amazon, so other than the width of the river, it appeared to be the same ecosystem. We walked to our treehouse---I knew I picked the newest one and the one closet to the river, but the website didn’t give a lot of other details…..so I didn’t know it was also the furthest out. We walked on raised boardwalk for a good 5 minutes (the ground underneath is dry now but is wet/part of river in the wet season) and then we walked up about 20 stairs to the platform of another treehouse. Then we had to cross a fairly long suspension bridge---so not my favorite….it was high up and swung when you walked on it. Honestly I’m not sure how I overcame my fear and walked across this one several times each day. That lead us to another platform for another treehouse and then across a shorter suspension bridge---this one didn’t move as much and was easier for me. Everything in the treehouse was screened in, including a small balcony overlooking the river. We had a bed that is covered in mosquito netting and a smaller bed (also covered) that we didn’t use, but it meant our treehouse was bigger than some others. The bathroom has a composting, flush toilet, a sink and a shower with ambient temp water…..typically it felt quite cold, for better or worse (sometimes the cold felt amazing!) A ceiling fan did help at night to keep the air flowing. We had electricity 24/7 and the treehouse was well made….beautiful wood and the tree trunk had a great patina in the middle of the space. On our first excursion that afternoon, we headed out to the mouth of the river Treehouse is on and saw a sloth at a distance and several birds en route. At the mouth where one river joins another, there were several dolphins, including some pink ones. You would see a flash of pink and they would be gone---Marden (our guide) said they are shy and not as playful as the grey river dolphin. You could hear them come up for a breath as it was really quiet---we were the only boat for most of the time. We could also hear them breathe when they were in the river in front of our treehouse (although we were quite a bit up in the air). So, after trying probably 100 times over the 4 days we were in the Amazon.....we got the ONE photo above that shows something pink coming out of the water. I don't think National Geographic will be calling...lol! The river is huge and even after seeing one pink dolphin by chance and then thinking you could follow it with your eye for a photo....they breach so fast that unless you had multiple cameras taking continuous photos....you would never get a great shot. That is ok---I have the memories in my mind :) We ate dinner at the main building and then headed out for a walk with Marden. It was pitch black and there was no trail like other places we have been on night adventure walks (like Borneo). We walked off the boardwalk and into the trees---we did have to wear their rubber boots to help in case of snakes or insects (was glad they had them!). It was hard to not be a little creeped out and think something was going to fall on us. We all had headlights, but they only went so far. We saw large frogs, white see through spiders, several types of ants (including one that Marden said was super painful and gave him a fever and was terrible….10x worse than fire ants), spikey trees, and heard many other things. We walked for probably only 30 minutes, but I was ready to be back on the boardwalk and in the light. On the way back to our room, we saw another type of frog that was camouflaged to blend in with the wood steps (nearly stepped on him). We also saw a tarantula on our last bridge that night….tried to tread lightly when we passed her. She didn’t seem to mind us at all. Even with all of the creepy crawly sightings, we slept well that night. We got up really early---around 4:15am--- to be ready for the sunrise---we headed to the same spot we saw the dolphins last night. The sunrise was beautiful and peaceful. We looked a bit along the shore for animals and Marden heard some monkeys in the distance. He brought the boat close to the shore and we jumped out and went in to explore. The monkeys here are generally scared of humans and will go deeper into the forest with any noise. So the crumble of leaves and branches underfoot gave us away and we never did find them. Marden said later he was glad we didn’t encounter anything else and he was looking up and down and all around since we didn’t have on boots. Pretty glad I didn’t know he was worried in the moment…my imagination was going enough thinking of all of the things I could step on without knowing that the guide was thinking the same thing. Came back and ate breakfast and then we took a short ride across the river to go for walk. We had seen a boat of tourists the night before looking in these trees and there were monkeys----they were trying to attract them with bananas. It made me uncomfortable---I didn’t like that humans were interacting so much with the monkeys----turning this small part into a mini-zoo. Marden explained more about their situation today----the woolly monkeys are furry and look like they would be nice to cuddle and villagers had kept these as pets. As they got older and bigger, there came a time when the villagers just dumped them. The monkeys were far from wild---they knew how to swing from the trees, but were so habituated to people, they could never really be truly wild, so the nearby lodges sort of started looking out for them. Some guests love that they can feed the monkeys or come close. As I understood the situation more, I see what a difficult decision this was (and continues to be). Villagers do kill some monkeys for meat, but there is some sort of agreement to leave these alone, so the human threat is less. There are about 8 monkeys in this group so it is small subset of the monkey population. Our guide Marden seemed to like one of monkeys more than the others….the female called Martina. He called her name and she came. She reached out her paw and Marden held her paw and petted her. You could tell they had a real connection and that Marden was doing what he could to protect her. As time went by Martina was more comfortable and came down and started interacting with Kirk (my husband)---grabbing his leg and she was very interested in his sunglasses. We watched her for awhile and decided to move on. Little did we know that Martina gets jealous. We had walked to the side to see a large bird on top of one of the trees and Martina and another monkey swung over and basically tried to show us they were more interesting than any bird :) I was a little nervous to have Martina climb on me (for disease purposes) but she came over to me and there really isn’t anything you can do when a monkey wants to hang on you. She was on my boot and then decided to start nibbling----that is sort of a catch 22. Monkeys like other animals can sense fear and I was a little nervous, but I also needed to get her off me so I tried to calmly mention the nnibbling to Marden so he could help me. No big deal, she got off me pretty quickly and didn’t break the skin, so all is well. We then started walking and Martina kept following. Marden said it was as far as he had even seen Martina go---she probably followed us for a mile or more. Mostly in the trees but occasionally she came down to check on us on the ground. I was a little surprised at how few other critters we saw. We did see a monk monkey high up in a tree---the monkey looks like it is wearing a monk robe----and lots of birds, but not much else. The wildlife seems to be deep in the forest…and I’m not sure It is as prevalent as I expected it would be overall. I was certainly seeing less than I expected. That afternoon, we sailed the "real" Amazon and took in the scenery. We saw several more pink dolphins along the way. Kirk decided he did want to take a dip in the Amazon and he jumped in right off the side of our little boat. Probably swam for 5 minutes and thankfully no piranha bit him :) There is an area on the Amazon where parakeets roost each night and it was an amazing sight to experience and hear. Parakeets were coming by the hundreds to this group of trees and all being vocal. They were coming from all directions and since it was getting dark, you couldn’t really see their brilliant green color, but seeing them closer to black and white (especially in the photos) gives it an otherworldly feel. Really interesting to see and hear. We headed back at a quick pace and saw a beautiful sunset along the way. I like being on the water, so this afternoon was a highlight. The next day was much the same with time on the river exploring and going on land to try and see more animals. We tried some of the wild fruits and Kirk went fishing for piranha (catch and release). These should have been the highlights of the day, but the "highlight" (if you can call it that) of our last full day was the experience of viewing the tarantula life cycle. As we were heading out in the morning, we noticed completely by chance that a tarantula (perhaps the same one that was on our bridge) was INSIDE our treehouse. She was just sitting on the netting. Our rationale was that the mosquito netting on the bed would keep her out and she probably wanted nothing to do with us. I was truly ok with her being inside---I didn't feel threatened. Well, when we came back after lunch, she was still there and I went to sit on the screened porch and saw what looked like a really small tarantula and honestly thought it was sort of cute...until I looked up and saw probably 25 or 30 of these small tarantulas crawling everywhere! Eggs had hatched while we were out. To my credit, I was only hysterical for about a minute :) Then it was ok, we are in the Amazon and this is all part of nature and how can we get to a place where I can sleep tonight.....because the mosquito netting probably wasn't going to keep a baby out. I chose to go to the main lodge to read my book while I pondered (just couldn't be there and watch them crawling everywhere!). Before we headed out to our evening excursion, I told Marden about our new family members and he gave me 2 options---they could come in with a broom and encourage the spiders to leave (I felt like this was code for kill them) or I could do nothing. I didn't want them dead, so I simply hoped they would have moved on by the time we went back for the night (and I made a deal with my husband that we would tag team to the bathroom in the middle of the night with 2 flashlights so we didn't step on a baby). We got lucky and there were only 8 or so babies (and mom) left when we came back after dinner...and we actually slept. Peru has so much more to offer than just Machu Picchu, but looking at this photo it is hard not to focus on this amazing location. I will get to Machu Picchu, but let me start from the beginning. I planned this trip at the last minute and if it had not been during COVID, I would not have been able to see everything I wanted or stay at the properties of my choice....so when you decide to visit Peru, please give yourself plenty of time to plan. The first step (as of the time of this writing), is getting a PCR test to visit Peru. The airline will verify your test results when you check in at your departure airport (for me, Portland, OR), along with your vaccine card. Since COVID regulations were changing frequently, I worked with my partners in Peru to have them meet me at the airport and help me in each location. As a travel advisor, I appreciate all of my local partners as they know exactly what is going on in the destination and can help my travelers make any needed changes immediately. We landed without incident in Lima and headed into town for a short 2-night stay. We stayed in the Miraflores district and headed out for a walk by the ocean. Our driver had mentioned that there had been some erosion due to earthquakes, but I was shocked to see it in daylight. Right at the ledge is a shopping mall above and the JW in the background is only a block or so away from the ledge. This is honestly the image I have when I think of Lima now. Of course, there is much more to the city. The food is wonderful and the people we met were all very friendly and welcoming. Lima is for sure worth at least a day in your itinerary (giving you 2 nights here). Next, we headed to the Sacred Valley---we flew into Cusco and it is about a 2 hour drive from there. The Sacred Valley is a lower elevation (about 8,000 feet) than Cusco (about 11,500) and staying the valley can help with altitude sickness as your body can adjust more gradually. Machu Picchu is also around 8,000 feet. I knew the Sacred Valley was beautiful, but I felt like everywhere I looked was beautiful. I took hundreds of photos! The Sacred Valley is a peaceful location to do some hiking or biking or simply relax. We spent 3 nights here and that gave me time to sightsee and enjoy some spa treatments (nice balance). The area is very agricultural--they seem to grow mostly potatoes and corn. The corn is nothing like I had seen before....the kernels were huge! They also had purple corn. From the Sacred Valley, it is a 1.5 hour or so train ride to the city of Machu Picchu. We went on the Vistadome train which has windows on the ceilings and local entertainment during the journey. It was exciting to see the terrain change along the way and there truly wasn't even a moment with a bad view. The COVID restrictions were the strictest on the train---you had to wear 2 masks and a face shield. It didn't deter from the experience from my perspective and gave us a funny story along the way. We had to buy the shield at a little vendor by the train (about 50 cents) and we put it on....and couldn't see anything....it was all blurry! I thought, how terrible...this is supposed to be a beautiful journey. Our driver thankfully knew what he was doing and peeled a film off each side of the shield and suddenly everything was clear. We probably had to tell 20 or more people to take the film off their shield on trip---no one other than out driver seemed to know what was going on. From the city of Machu Picchu (formerly called Agua Calientes), it is a 30 minute bus ride or a couple/few hour hike up to the actual Machu Picchu ruins. We stayed at the only hotel at the ruins---Belmond Sanctuary Lodge---so we took the bus up right after the train. Arriving around 3pm we were the only ones on the bus up (that is around the time of the last entry into Machu Picchu so everyone was coming back down, not going up). From the Orchid Garden at the Belmond, you can see the citadel of Machu Picchu (to the left of the mountain in the photo above). We were glad we had seen even that small glance when the next morning at our 6am entry time (best time to go---you avoid a lot of the crowds) it was a downpour and super foggy. We literally could hardly see our hands in front of our faces. We thought the view from the garden might be all we would get. Like I mentioned, I planned this trip at the last minute and got lucky to get tickets....but there wasn't enough availability to get a second entry time (advice: if you have bad weather, it is reassuring that you have a back up time). Our guide was patient and we waited until the end of our entrance window to enter and then walked slowly up the path. Still raining, still foggy. Then the guide began speaking about how Machu Picchu is a spiritual location and he encouraged us to think positively and actually try to blow the fog away with our deep breaths. I'm open to new approaches, but at that point my husband was looking at me like this was all a bit too crazy for his liking....but after doing the exercise, within about 2 minutes, the fog began to lift and we could see a small sliver of the citadel and a bit of the path into the main part of the ruins. The fog would lift for a few moments and then roll back in. This continued for much of our time at Machu Picchu, but I honestly felt that the mystical atmosphere made the visit more memorable. Each time we could see something, it was like we were finding it for the first time. The weather had scared away lots of people and for the first 1.5 hours or so, we were basically alone. We did get a glimpse of the sun towards the end of our visit and those views are also gorgeous. You are allowed 4 hours at the site, but no one really times you. The path is one way so you can't back track----that naturally limits your visit since once you make the circuit you have to leave. This is the end of part one.....this part of the journey was 7 nights. 2 in Lima, 3 in the Sacred Valley and 2 at Machu Picchu. Until next time....
Like many of you, I had been waiting...and waiting...for travel to be allowed again to Europe. The morning of my flight I checked and double checked that I had all of the necessary information. It seemed pretty straightforward and thankfully it was. The airline agent checked my COVID vaccine card when I checked in at the airport and then...nothing. No one checked anything during my connection in Atlanta and when I landed in Frankfurt, the immigration officer simply asked the purpose of my trip and I was allowed in. Yes, masks are still required and Germany requires the masks to be medical masks---no cloth masks or other face coverings are allowed. There are social distancing markers and hand sanitizing stations in place. Most hotels, restaurants, stores, tourist attractions, etc are open and welcoming guests. My main reason for visiting Germany is always to see friends...and it was especially exciting to see them this time since I hadn't been to Germany since December 2019. A long time for me... Germany is a beautiful country and I love being outside and being able to walk nearly everywhere. I can't post Germany photos without at least one of cake :) After spending a few days with friends, I flew to Santorini, Greece. I have wanted to visit for as long as I can remember. Somehow, it never worked until now. Normally, when you fly within what is called the Schengen Area (many countries within the EU), there is no immigration or customs. You can land and walk right out of the airport. However, now that each country has its own COVID entry requirements, there is an additional step. For Greece, each passenger had to show proof of vaccination OR a negative COVID test. Each passenger also had to fill in a passenger locator form (PLF) on-line at least 24 hours prior to arrival and show a QR code as proof. I had only one night in Santorini and I was hoping for a beautiful sunset. Oia, a town on Santorini, is known around the world for amazing sunsets. There is hardly any rain during the summer on Santorini, so my chances of seeing one were pretty high. The sunset did not disappoint....and the surrounding area was gorgeous! I could have sat and watched a hundred sunsets and not been bored. I would certainly recommend spending more than 1 night on the island---3 or 4 nights would be my recommendation. I had most of the next day to explore and I hired a guide to show me the island. Efi was an excellent guide and she truly showed me nearly every part of the island. I was gathering intel to help me plan trips for you---it was a bit of a whirlwind---I didn't get to spend much time in any one location and to truly see the island would take a few days. There are beaches, but they are all black sand and while a couple of towns have beach clubs, Santorini isn't the best location to visit if you want to stay on the beach all day, every day. A beach day or two is great, but Santorini is known for its wines, views, food, architecture, and the ancient city of Akrotiri. A volcanic eruption buried Akrotiri in a similar way that Pompeii was buried in Italy...except Akrotiri was buried much earlier and is sometimes referred to as the lost city of Atlantis. Each village on Santorini has a different feel and it is important to understand what you hope to see on the island before choosing where to stay. After seeing how narrow and windy the roads are on Santorini (and how difficult it is to find a parking spot!), I would strongly encourage you to not rent a car, ATV or moped. From Santorini I headed to Athens---it is a quick 30 minute flight. I had been to Athens before and had seen the most popular spots (Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, etc). For this visit, I hired a guide for a culinary tour. We walked all over Athens and I saw neighborhoods I wouldn't have normally seen. It was fun not knowing what I was going to taste at the next stop. I stayed about a 10 minute walk outside of Plaka---the main tourist neighborhood of Athens. It was nice to be so close when I wanted to visit, but far enough away that the neighborhood wasn't crowded and it was more locals at dinner than tourists. Not all of these photos were taken on the culinary walk, but thought this was a good place to keep the food together. I had amazing food and looking and these are making me hungry for more Greek food! Like all international destinations, I had to get a COVID test before I could return to the US. Greece has many testing options--including a testing site at the airport. I got my test at a pharmacy in the middle of a pedestrian only shopping street about a 5 minute walk from my hotel. I paid 20€ and had my results in less than 5 minutes. It was very simple. There are even companies that will come to you at your hotel---that price was 40€ for the same test.
I had an amazing time and wish I could stayed longer than 9 days, but I loved every minute. Hoping I can make another trip back to Germany this winter (crossing my fingers!). I am here to help you plan your return trip to Europe. While restrictions and entry requirements are different for each country, more than 60% of European countries are open. River cruises are starting and ocean cruises have been sailing in Greece and Croatia since those countries opened earlier this year. This isn't the year for a large tour, but private guides are eager to show you their countries and many, if not most, tourist attractions are open for business. Please get in touch when you are ready to start planning. This was my first visit to the Puerto Vallarta/Punta Mita area of Mexico and I was impressed. The area is beautiful (beaches and jungle) and the people are very friendly. I am even thinking of coming back for an extended stay---renting a house for a few months. I had the pleasure of staying at 2 different resorts and visiting 7 others. This area doesn't have near as many resorts as the Cancun/Rivera Maya area, but there is a good variety of options so that there is a good fit for everyone. St. Regis Punta MitaPunta Mita is a quiet area about an hour away from the Puerto Vallarta airport. As you drive from the airport, you see the Walmart and Home Depot and then slowly there is nothing but trees on each side of the road. As you approach Punta Mita, there are a few smaller stores and restaurants, but it is more rural than Puerto Vallarta. The St. Regis is in a gated community with the Four Seasons resort, along with some condos and a golf course. The St. Regis is a smaller resort (120 rooms) on a private rocky beach. Like all St. Regis properties, butler service is included. The butler can help you unpack, make dinner reservations, or answer questions about the resort. You simply text or Whatsapp and you get an answer in minutes. Meals are not included in the base room rate, but they have several excellent restaurants on-property. Even during COVID, there were two options for lunch and three for dinner during my stay. Of course, you can also order room service and enjoy the view from your balcony. The St. Regis has loaner bikes and I used one to explore the area---there is a paved path throughout the gated community. The resort is beautiful and the rooms are traditional luxury---think marble and neutral colors. I loved having a soaking tub, two indoor shower options, as well as an outdoor shower. Bathrooms are important to me :) All of the pools are open and there is wait service at the beach and pools, so relaxation is key here. W Punta MitaThe W is a few minutes down the road from St. Regis (heading back toward Puerto Vallarta). I loved the entrance to the resort as you have to drive quite a bit (5 minutes maybe) down a little cobblestone road with jungle on each side...you feel like you are going to a secret spot. Once you arrive at the parking lot, you are escorted via golf cart to the lobby. I think of W hotels as party spots----and the city hotels are all about being seen and the party---but this is part of a different W collection of resorts that are quieter. Not to say there isn't a DJ or anything going on...there is, but it is much more chill. This property is stunning. Absolutely gorgeous. In terms of the property itself, the W was my favorite. The W is not all inclusive, but they have several restaurants on-property. Grand Velas Puerto VallartaVelas is a Mexican owned company and they do a great job with all-inclusive. This property is great for parents of small children---included in the rate are things like diapers, high chairs, baby bath tubs and homemade baby food. You truly only have to bring clothes and your baby. Grand Velas also has great kids and teen clubs and plenty for adults to do. They also have speciality rooms---such as wellness, where only healthy snack and drink options are included in the mini-bar and you have the choice of essential oils to fragrance the room and a stationary bike in suite so you don't even have to go to the gym. Grand Velas is a large resort and has something for everyone. Casa VelasAlso part of Velas, this is an adult only property in a residential area in Puerto Vallarta. While the property is not on the beach, they have a separate beach club and a shuttle that takes you to and from all day ( a 5 minute journey). Casa Velas is located on a golf course, so it is perfect for golfers. This property is small (80 rooms) and it has the feel of coming to a friends house (very beautiful house....). There is one restaurant and the chef meets with each guest to make sure the menu meets their needs. As a guest a Casa Velas, you can also eat a dinner at Grand Velas or a meal at Velas Vallarta. This property is perfect if you are looking for peace and quiet. NOW Amber and Secrets Vallarta BayThese two resorts are together because they are both on the same property---and are mirror images of one another. NOW is family friendly and Secrets is adult only. Guests at Secrets are able to use the restaurants at NOW, but guests at NOW are only allowed in the NOW restaurants (with a couple of exceptions, like live shows). These are both part of chains and some clients like the familiarity---for example, the Coco Cafe at NOW is similar to that at properties at other NOW (and Dreams) resorts in the Caribbean. These resorts are on a beautiful beach and Secrets is a popular spot for weddings (you can also get married at NOW). Both NOW and Secrets have a preferred club...rooms with added amenities like lounge access and premium liquor. Garza BlancaGarza Blanca has a different feel than many resorts---you can choose to book it all-inclusive or as the room only. They also have lots of sizes of rooms---from junior suites (normal hotel sized rooms) to 3 bedroom suites. The kitchen in the larger suites are bigger than some I've had in apartments! You could truly stay comfortably for weeks or longer. I would be happy to live in the hammock on the huge balcony. They also have several buildings with some being close to the beach and some are across the road a bit higher up (for better ocean views). They have a trolley that will take you where you need to go. Hotel MousaiHotel Mousai is next to the Garza Blanca property and it is adult only. The trolley will take guests down to the beach and beach chairs and cabanas are reserved for Hotel Mousai guests. Many guests never leave though once they see the rooftop. The spa is also amazing and they have a hydrotherapy circuit. This property is often sold out, so they started building a second tower that should be complete by the end of 2021. The service is amazing and the rooms are large (with a very stocked mini-bar). Hyatt ZivaLast, but certainly not least is Hyatt Ziva. This is a family friendly all inclusive resort, with some adult only areas. Hyatt Ziva is located on a cove and the beach is very private. Hyatt has scheduled activities like beach stretching, classes to learn how to make cocktails, and live entertainment most nights. I went on the jungle hike and loved it (although it was more challenging than I was expecting for an all-inclusive resort). There are several restaurant options and room service is available 24/7. I can attest that the spa is amazing---my massage was very good and you are allowed in the sauna, steam rooms and spa pool for an hour before or after your treatment which is a nice touch. I look forward to planning your trip to Puerto Vallarta!
Charleston is on almost every "must see" city list. The city has so much to offer. This was my first visit and I loved walking around the city....after eating some amazing food :) This is sort of what Charleston is known for... Charleston is steeped in history and you don't need a guide to see the beautiful architecture---many old buildings have been well maintained and preserved. I like to wander around on my own and take everything in, but as I've gotten older, I also like to balance that wandering with a few hours with a guide so I know what I'm seeing. During my private tour with Brian, owner of Charleston Sole Walking Tours, I was amazed at how many things I had simply walked past the day before and never even noticed. Charleston has lots of wonderful stories to go along with the character and Brian brought the history to life. When I wasn't walking around exploring, I was eating. Charleston is for sure a foodie city and the eat (and drink) local movement has been at the forefront for years. New restaurants open frequently and they are balanced with options that have been around forever. While ten plus years isn't forever, in the restaurant world, that is often considered a long run. I was fortunate to score a reservation at Husk one evening (reservations are still a little difficult to get) and experience what was once the most famous option in Charleston. My photos don't do justice as I was eating outside at 9:30pm, but the food was incredibly fresh and the menu describes where the ingredient is sourced. Husk, and much of Charleston for that matter, isn't especially vegetarian friendly...and with the local food movement, menus at places like Husk are released each day...meaning you have to take a leap of faith when reserving a table. Husk and others will accommodate dietary restrictions, but I wanted to eat off menu as that is what the chef thought was freshest that day. I had the choice of 3 small plates the night I dined and I chose 2--- pimento cheese triangles with pickled green tomatoes (they were AMAZING) with pepper jelly and local greens AND a gorgeous salad of local greens, oranges, strawberries, golden beets and yogurt. I loved every bit, but the dessert was what was especially memorable. I had a chocolate and peanut butter torte with buttermilk ice cream...peanut brittle was sprinkled over everything and added a nice crunch. I am drooling thinking about it! The signature cocktails were also inventive. I could describe every meal with this much adoration....every place I tried in Charleston presented amazing and fresh food. Bring your stretchy pants :) Ok, so now you know you need to visit Charleston, so where to stay?? For a relatively small city, Charleston has many accommodation choices and staying in the historic center means you can do most of your exploring on foot (no need to rent a car, except for a day or two to explore outside the city center). I started off at the Grand Bohemian. This is a part of a small group of hotels that focus on art and design. There is a gallery on-site and art is placed all throughout the property----much of it is also for sale if you find something you like. This is not a cookie-cutter property. Grand Bohemian has a rooftop where you can have drinks or a meal and they have a ground floor shaded patio near the wine bar that has a very European feel. You can even do a wine mixology course and create your own wine blend. Your blend is bottled and makes an awesome souvenir. My next stop was the iconic Belmond Charleston Place. This is a beautiful property full of old school luxury touches, like marble floors and fresh flower arrangements. I stayed on the club level which offers several food and beverage presentations throughout the day. During COVID, it was nice to have a small space to enjoy a drink or snack---masks are required when you are standing, but can be taken off when seated (eating and drinking). They have a rooftop spa and pool---the pool can be used year round which is a nice feature. The location of Belmond can't be beat---you are minutes away from everything and the staff is EXCELLENT. You will be well cared for if you stay at the Belmond. I also toured several other properties while I was in Charleston. Hotel Bennett and Zero George were two of my favorites---total different from one another, but both great properties. Hotel Bennett is a newer property and they have really thought about having great spaces to spread out. Even if you book an entry level room, there is an outdoor lounge where you can relax. You can upgrade to a Club Level room for another outdoor space with amazing views of the city (specifically overlooking Marion Square). Speaking of Marion Square, that is a great location for the weekly Farmers Market and outdoor concerts and events. Hotel Bennett was built on the location of the former city library and they brought that theme into the hotel (all of the rooms have bookshelves with decorative books). There are several options for dining, including Camellia's----they serve afternoon tea on weekends and Champagne all night long. Zero George is a historical property and you feel like you are visiting friends as opposed to staying at a hotel (in a good way!). They have thought about outdoor space and each room has a little nook to themselves to have breakfast, tea, or read a book. There is a great restaurant on-site and the chef is one of the few in Charleston to offer cooking classes (both the restaurant and classes fill up well in advance). The rooms vary in size and are comfortable with a few luxury touches. Zero George is a great respite from the busy city, but still close to the action to be walkable. Please send me a message to start planning your trip to Charleston. I can offer exclusive perks at all of these properties, as well as many others.
This was my first trip to the Florida Keys...my husband wanted to go diving and I decided to join him. The dive sites are close to land so it is easy to combine scuba with one of the many other activities the Keys have to offer. Depending on what part of the Keys you want to visit, you can fly into Key West or Miami. I wanted the full Keys experience, so we flew into Key West and out of Miami and rented a car. The Key West airport is small and even during COVID, there were 2 flights landing at the same time. That overwhelmed the system, so flying into Key West requires some patience. The line to pick up a rental car was long and the agents were on "island time" so it can take a awhile. Masks are required in the airport, but the small space made social distancing difficult. Somehow in that small space, they found room for a bar (in between the door and the baggage claim carousel). Key West begins the party as soon as you are off the plane. Key West is known for being the Southernmost point in the U.S. and Key West is closer to Havana, Cuba than it is to Miami. Key West has a lot of history and you see lots of beautiful old buildings driving into town. As you get closer to Mallory Square and Duval Street, you also see a lot of bars and clubs :) I would say most people who visit Key West go for the party scene. There are lots of hotels and bed and breakfasts within walking distance from the main areas of Key West. It is nice to not have to drive...or pay for parking which can be very pricy. Many people think there are great beaches in Key West---a few hotel properties have private beaches and there are a few public ones, but they do not compare to the beaches of other parts of Florida like Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Naples or St. Petersburg. If you are looking for a beautiful beach, Key West is not the best fit (public beach photo below). There is only main road in all of the Keys, so it is easy to find your way. As we headed north, the crowds thinned considerably. The scenery is beautiful in between towns. There are lots of bridges, including one that is 7 miles long....called 7 mile bridge (so creative!). It is also possible to bike up and down the Overseas Highway (US Route 1), although some points just have a small bike lane next to car traffic (other places have a dedicated bike trail off the main road). We stopped at Isla Bella Resort in Marathon for a quick tour. This resort opened in 2019 and brings luxury to an area of the Keys that hasn't had it before (at least without having to take a boat to the resort). Isla Bella sits on 24 acres of land and offers beautiful rooms and 1 to 5 bedroom suite options. They are also pet friendly and have their own (small) dog park on-site. There are lots of options for spending time outdoors and the resort grounds feel like a botanical garden...super relaxing. About 45 minutes further north is Islamorada, a town known for sport fishing. There are lots of options for restaurants, shopping and places to stay in Islamorada (along with a Publix grocery store). As you drive into town (which is actually quite large), you can only see the ocean as you go over bridges....the rest of the road is built up. Turning onto a small street, brought us to our stop at Cheeca Lodge. Cheeca has been around for decades and they have a history of welcoming many very important guests, including presidents. The vibe is luxury, but also has sort of a camp feel. There are several pools, a golf course (9 hole), tennis, pickleball, volleyball and basketball courts, tons of watersports, the longest pier in the Keys for fishing (or admiring the scenery) and bikes for exploring. We saw lots of families and the resort is very kid-friendly. Checca Lodge also has one of the larger beaches in the Keys. The sand is coarse (no powder soft sand here) but there are beautiful sunrise views. Key Largo is the Northernmost Key and is about 30 minutes from Islamorada (depending on traffic). Key Largo is also well developed so you can't see any of the beautiful scenery from the road, but just a minute off the road on either side give you views. Key Largo's most famous spot is probably John Pennekamp State Park...the country's first underwater park. You can snorkel, dive or take a glass bottom boat. There are also a few walking paths through the mangroves on a boardwalk. The sunset views are great at several restaurants in Key Largo (many have lots of outdoor seating). We chose to charter a boat with a some friends so we could see the mangroves and see the sunset from the open water. We were 6 people in total and the price of chartering our own small boat was about the same price as paying for 6 people to join a larger sunset sailing. Having a private experience was so much better...there are lots of boats offering this option (or options to go out snorkeling during the day). Key Largo has lots of options for lodging, including The Bungalows. They are one of the few all inclusive resorts in the United States. They are an adult only property and have several options for dining and drinks. Key Largo also has several larger resorts, like the Marriott Key Largo, where you can snorkel right from the hotel beach. Plenty of options and Key Largo is only about 1.5 hours from Miami. I am happy to plan your next trip to the Keys. Please message me to get started.
I wanted to look back at 2020 in order to think about how 2021 is going to be better, but I quickly realized 2020 gave me plenty to be grateful for...even if things were different. I find looking back therapeutic any year--to see how far I've come and to set goals and aspirations for the future--this year it all seems more important. The photo above is from Seaside, OR. Henry (the dog) and I took a spontaneous trip last January to the beach--low season prices were too hard to resist. We had the beach almost completely to ourselves and while chilly, it was really nice. I will take worse weather over crowds any day :) We made our way from Seaside up the coast and into Washington State. We stopped at Olympia and headed to the Olympic Peninsula. All a great time for reflection and long walks. February brought me to Chicago. You may be asking who in their right mind goes to Chicago in February?? My reason was my dad's 85th birthday and I am so thankful we could all get together to celebrate before the world changed. The idea of having 25+ people inside at a gathering feels crazy now, but just 10 months ago, it was business as usual. I took advantage of leap year to use the extra day to fly to Africa. Very productive use of an extra day in my opinion :) I used the quiet and reflection of my January trip to plan this last minute trip of my dreams. I couldn't shake the feeling that if I didn't go now, I wouldn't go (or wouldn't go for awhile). I was thinking more of simply life being busy with work and I knew we were moving again in 2020, but I am so grateful I took that nudge to make it happen. Thinking back to my time in Rwanda and Uganda brings a smile to face and I hope it continues to for many years to come. I was on my scheduled flight from Kampala, Uganda to Amsterdam en route home when President Trump announced the travel ban to Europe. I knew COVID was becoming a larger problem, but I didn't imagine the world would change so dramatically...or so quickly. I was on the second to the last flight from Amsterdam to Portland and took an Uber home thinking I was exhausted and perhaps I shouldn't be around that many people. As we all know, what has happened since mid-March is....sitting here thinking for the right word...perhaps unbelievable sums it up. I was scheduled to be home for a couple of weeks and then head to Guam to see my husband. This would have been my last trip to Guam before our scheduled move in the summer. Each day we thought the next would bring good news and somewhat surprisingly, the flights between Hawaii and Guam never stopped flying. The challenge for me was how to get to Hawaii. I almost went for it since I thought COVID would pass in the time I was gone. Guess I don't have a career in fortune telling, huh? So, I stayed home like the rest of the world. I cancelled dozens of trips for clients and each week brought more. I love being a travel advisor so I can help people experience wonderful places around the world. I don't imagine there is an advisor out there that enjoys seeing those trips get cancelled (and for some, cancelled 3, 4 or 5 times). I tried to be hopeful and I continue to be hopeful for a better travel future. As I mentioned, we were scheduled to move this summer (my husband is active duty military). I was in Oregon and we were headed to Washington, DC. Just a short little drive :) I missed my husband and decided I could travel safely on the road---choosing hotels that were doing the best job of COVID precautions and with a couple bags of snacks and microwave meals in case restaurants closed again while I was en route. July and August were spent getting settled in our new home of Alexandria, VA. I had clients begin to travel in the United States and Mexico and the glimmer of hope was getting brighter. I wanted to see if it was possible to fly safely and see what the precautions looked like in reality (plus, you know me, I was itching to travel). I booked a trip to Mexico about a week before I left. That is one travel trend that seems to have stuck during COVID---the average booking is now made 2 or 3 weeks out instead of 2 or 3 (or more) months in advance. My first flight post COVID was to Cancun. They had been open for months and seemed to have their act together and data suggested COVID transmission wasn't happening at resorts or on airplanes, so I felt confident. Yes, I had to wear a mask. Yes, things were different. In my experience, different wasn't bad. My trip was literally a breath of fresh air---I could be outside most of the day and since resorts are capacity controlled, there was more room to spread out and less waiting in lines. The local tourism providers were very thankful for visitors. Up next was a little road trip with Henry to the Delaware Shore (Dewey Beach). Henry had his first ice cream in a dog ice cream parlor (didn't know they existed!)...sometimes it is the small memories that make a trip. October had more clients traveling and I explored the Dominican Republic for the first time...and had so much space to myself. Travel was just starting back up and resorts were at limited occupancy. November was a time for me to explore DC a bit (outdoors and wearing a mask) and as COVID numbers increased again, I weighed the pros and cons and decided to continue on with my planned trip to Sandals Grande Antigua. Antigua was the first destination I visited that required a COVID test, so I had my first test the end of November (the requirement was within 7 days of arrival). Antigua was beautiful and Sandals did an excellent job with COVID precautions. 2020 was certainly a year, but on reflection, not all bad. I visited places I probably wouldn't have under other circumstances. I also had to be creative to help find clients who wanted to travel spaces that would be safe and responsible to travel to under the circumstances. I'm grateful for the things I've learned this year and am hopeful that 2021 is the year we can all get back to travel. I am here to help you whenever you are ready to start planning. Happy New Year! I recently visited Antigua and fell in love with the island. Antigua is currently (as of the time of writing) a CDC Level 2 destination which means they have excellent COVID-19 precautions in place and the number of infections are considered low. I was required to have a PCR test within 7 days of arrival and travel with my negative test result (I printed multiple copies and saved the file on my phone). Upon arrival at the airport, you need to fill out some forms, have your temperature taken and answer a few questions. The process from getting off the plane to walking out of the airport took about 45 minutes which is very good (not much longer than pre-COVID). I had the pleasure of staying at Sandals Grande Antigua which is a 15 to 20 minute drive from the airport. If you are not familiar with Sandals they are a chain of exceptional adult only, all inclusive resorts. They are all 5 star resorts and have nearly everything included---even scuba diving. Airport transfers and most staff gratuities are also included (if you have a butler level suite, tips for the butler are not required, but encouraged). The dining options range from a pastry shop to high end fine dining and all are included in the price, as is premium top shelf alcohol (you can also get local drink options). Sandals also has many on-site entertainment options throughout the day from beach volleyball, yoga, Hobie Cat sailing to live music and themed parties at night. Each resort has a little different vibe with Antigua being on the quieter end on the party scale (perfect for me and my husband!). Sandals is also known for its service. Staff are there to help you with whatever you need and it is certainly service with a smile. I'm not a huge drinker, but felt like something while I was relaxing at the pool. I asked the bartender for a suggestion for something frosty, refreshing and not super sugary. She said I have just the thing and made me an amazing mango mojito. The staff to guest ratio is high, so there are plenty of chances to chat and get to know the staff and ask their recommendations. As many of you know I am a vegetarian and that can be a challenge at some resorts, but Sandals did an excellent job. They had at least two vegetarian options on each restaurant menu and the chef was always willing to create something for me if I didn't like the options (they have many veggie options with fake meat which isn't my thing). One lunch my husband had the Thai fish curry and they made me Thai tofu curry. Perfect and very tasty :) My husband enjoyed being able to have surf and turf each day if he wanted...the food is truly high end and ordering off the menus feels like you are at a gourmet restaurant (except there is no bill at the end). For those of you that love going to Europe, the crepes at the pastry shop were very, very good. If I closed my eyes, I could almost believe I was eating my Nutella and banana crepe in France :) Sandals has many different room categories------something around 30 to 40 of them at each resort. Each category is based on the location of the room and the amenities offered. As your travel advisor, I'm here to help you figure out what is the best fit. Even the lowest room categories have access to all of the restaurants and activities. You won't have access to room service for free or have liquor in your minibar, but a bar is only a couple minutes away. Some rooms are large with a separate sitting area and/or even your own private plunge pool and hot tub (sign me up!). These rooms come with a butler who is there to help you secure the best loungers at the beach and pool (with a cooler of drinks waiting) and get you priority dining and spa reservations. You barely have to lift a finger :) Many couples choose to stay in these suites and villas as part of their destination wedding or honeymoon (contact me for more information about having your wedding at Sandals). I also like Sandals because as part of their Sandals Foundation, they give back to the local communities where the resorts are located and encourage guests to participate in Pack for a Purpose. This is a program (not limited to Sandals) where local agencies upload a wish list of items that guests can bring in their suitcase from home or purchase locally. COVID has impacted communities around the world and these donations are needed more than ever---the staff at Sandals Grande Antigua were very appreciative of the small items I brought. If you are a shopper, this gives you an opportunity to bring needed items from home and then gives you space for your new purchases on the way home. I did leave the resort for a private tour, but Sandals has plenty to do on resort to keep you busy for days. Each location has a little different COVID precautions or restrictions in place---for Antigua, I was allowed to leave property with no additional testing or restrictions. Everyone in the car (driver and passengers) had to wear masks and capacity was limited (a mini van now could hold 3 passengers for a tour). I will leave you with some beautiful island photos. Please get in touch to plan your trip to Sandals (I have some exclusive promo codes for a limited time!). I had the pleasure of checking out several resorts while I was visiting the Dominican Republic. About half of the resorts in the Punta Cana area are currently open, with many other resorts planning to re-open late November or early December. I honestly feel like now is the time to visit. Punta Cana can be very crowded, but during my visit, occupancy levels were around 10-40% of capacity. Some resorts were very, very quiet and others had quite a bit of their normal entertainment up and running with capacity controls in place. So, something for everyone :) Sanctuary Cap Cana Sanctuary is an adult-only resort in the beautiful Cap Cana area. This area is only a 15 minute or so drive from the airport and the main entrance to Cap Cana (which has several resorts) is gated. Sanctuary has several different areas within the resort (including a building that looks like a castle), so it is easy to feel like you have been to more than 1 resort during your stay. The resort is still small enough to be walkable though. The photo above is of one of the suite "balconies". Talk about oceanfront--I would never leave if that was part of my room :) All of the rooms have ocean views and even the lowest category of room is very nice. Sanctuary also has stand alone villas for people who want extra space--they are very popular at the moment and are sold out for the next few months. Sanctuary is doing a very good job with COVID precautions---the restaurant seating has been adjusted to give guests extra room and several options have outdoor seating. Upon arrival, luggage is sanitized and your temperature is taken. Hand sanitizer is offered frequently and plexi glass dividers are in place at reception and concierge desks. The beach is more of a cove than a long stretch of beach and is located on the Caribbean side of the island. This resort is gorgeous very sophisticated, but the vibe is more chill than some other options (this can be a positive or a negative) Some resort photos are below. Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara This property is divided into 2 sections---Ziva is the family friendly side and Zilara is the adult-only. If you are staying staying at Zilara, you have access to everything (restaurants, pool, beach, etc) on the Ziva side and adults also have the option of visiting the Zilara side (but children are not allowed to visit Zilara). These resorts are also in Cap Cana. I think one of the main reasons to choose Hyatt is the excellent food choices. All of my clients that stay here love the food. The buffet options (one on each side) are currently open, but staff have to serve you the options you request. The al la carte restaurants are capacity controlled, but with the lower occupancy levels, it is easy to get in to the restaurant of your choice. The pools at Hyatt are large with plenty of room to spread out. There are fire pit areas on both sides that are popular at night...with bars very close. The beach is a long and on the Caribbean side. Hyatt is taking COVID seriously and are giving people plenty of space at their entertainment venues. I am not a gym person, but if you are, Hyatt is your place! This gym area is HUGE. There are several rooms with equipment and weights, a section dedicated to CrossFit, space for yoga as well as spinning. The hours are reduced because of COVID (used to be 24/7), but the gym is still open longer than other resorts. They also have a water park--some of the larger slides are even for adults (or older kids)...and they have food trucks so you don't have to walk back to the main part of the resort if you get hungry or thirsty (no alcohol here). Secrets Cap Cana This is the 3rd resort I saw in the Punta Cana area---they are all within about a 5 minute drive of one another. Secrets is an adult-only resort that is part of a chain. You can find Secrets resorts throughout the Caribbean and Mexico. Some people like that they are a chain as the restaurants and bars are all the same across properties. There are local specialties at each resort (like the best fresh passion fruit juice I've ever tasted!). Secrets was the busiest resort I visited and they were at about 40% of capacity. They are taking all of the COVID precautions. Secrets is broken down into the regular resort and a preferred club. The preferred club has been selling out because the rooms have more space than regular rooms....and we all want as much space as we can get at the moment. The wedding program is up and running again and they have adjusted some locations to make sure there is plenty of social distancing. There are several pools and a gorgeous long stretch of beach. This was the one resort where I saw plexi glass at all bars...so it is safer to go get drinks and chat with the bar staff. Iberostar Bavaro Beach This resort has several resorts in one...so this really isn't the resort name, but it helps decipher the location. I was able to visit Iberostar Selection Bavaro and the Coral Level at Selection Bavaro. Iberostar Punta Cana, Dominicana and Grand Bavaro were all still closed. The resorts at this location vary from 3 star to 5 star---Punta Cana is the lowest option and you are only able to use the amenities at that resort. However, if you stay somewhere like the Coral Level, you can use the amenities at that resort as well as resorts lower than that category (so everything except Grand Bavaro...at Grand Bavaro you can visit all of the resorts). Iberostar has the strictest COVID entry requirements of my visit --- the driver and I had to have our temperature taken in the vehicle at the entrance and then again in the lobby. The machine in the lobby required you to be close to have your temperature taken (no thermal cameras here--that is what most other resorts have so you don't even know they are taking your temperature). This resort is quite large and most people use golf carts to get around. They require you to use hand sanitizer before getting in the cart and they have capacity controls in place. The grounds are very nice and very green. They also have a golf course on site---it is about a 5 to 10 minute golf cart ride from the reception desk (depending on which resort you are staying). Golf is not included for most of the resorts (it is included for some rooms at Grand Bavaro). The beach is wide open and has plenty of space. I was a little surprised about the dining options---Iberostar typically is all or mostly all buffet restaurants---and now even with COVID, they are continuing. Guests have to wear a mask in the buffet area and social distance. The portions are all grab and go or prepared at a station. The tables are all set up with social distancing in mind and during my lunch time visit, there were plenty of tables to space out. Hard Rock Punta Cana This resort is one of the largest in Punta Cana with 1,775 rooms. I have never visited a resort this large before and it certainly is immense...and they are expanding to include a water park scheduled to open Summer 2021. The resort has a huge array of things to do---from a casino to recording studios, as well as a huge shopping area. Many options are included in the all inclusive package, but some are available at an extra cost. Like Hard Rock Cafes, the theme is all music related and there is music memorabilia throughout the resort. I noticed Hard Rock didn't have as many COVID precautions in place as the other resorts I saw, but they are requiring social distancing. I don't have as many photos because my tour was by golf cart and we didn't stop---drive by photos never turn out all that well. The beach is beautiful and is a long white sand one where you could walk for some distance. There are many pools, so you have plenty of options. While you could walk the property, it would likely be a 15 to 20 minute walk from reception to the ocean. Most people take the shuttle golf cart or you can rent your own private golf cart if you don't want to have to wait (or to share with others). There are lots of restaurants and bars here to give you plenty of variety. There is more of a party-vibe here than the other resorts I saw (can be a positive or negative). Please message me when you are ready to plan your trip to the Dominican Republic. I am a Certified Dominican Republic specialist and have exclusive perks at many of these resorts.
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AuthorTracey is the owner of Unraveled Travel and has traveled to every continent (thanks to the recent visit to Antarctica! Archives
December 2023
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