Trip Quips » Hot Spots

Anguilla – A Real Review

Jason Sarracini — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:27:46 +0000

Tucked away in the northern Caribbean lies a small wonder, Anguilla. Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory, 16 miles long, and 3 miles at the widest point that has 33 white sand beaches with crystal clear waters. The island is a retreat for couples, families and singles offering a wide range of accommodations that are among the finest in the world. Cuisine is a central feature of the Anguillian experience, there is over 85 restaurants that offer some of the best Caribbean dishes. It is the warmth and friendliness of the Anguilla people that will make your experience truly incomparable!

One of the world’s most tranquil eco-tourism getaways, Anguilla’s coral and limestone flatlands and salt ponds offer the ideal setting for shooting spectacular photographs or simply watching the sun as it melts into the sea. Carefully maintained and preserved by the gracious and proud population, Anguilla is a nature lover’s dream. It’s a sailor’s dream, too. An honoured tradition of locally built and designed boats is shown off at regattas on national holidays, particularly during the annual Carnival celebrations.

Anguilla is a diverse mix of experiences that will make you slow down, relax and unwind! Escape to this place off the beaten path, that will offer you ultimate bliss, no-worry weather, warm smiles, stunning sunrises, shimmering sunsets, blissful beaches, gourmet cuisine and total seclusion!

HOW TO GET THERE

Air Canada Vacations is offering a direct non-stop flight from Toronto to St. Martin/Maarten beginning December 18, 2010 until April 9, 2011. Plus, we offer convenient connectors from 65 Canadian Cities.

Fly into St. Martin/St. Maarten and enjoy a 30-minute ferry ride to Anguilla followed by a 15-minute bus transfer to your hotel.
USD$1 daily government tourism levied tax, paid by guest on departure. Please note a USD$20 per person departure tax is to be paid in cash upon departure from Anguilla. Children under 12 are free.

Enrty Requirements - Passport

Note: The Anguilla Air Services (AAS) offers daily charters for approximately USD$80 one way/per person from St. Martin/Maarten to Anguilla. For full details, go to to www.anguillaairservices.com.

HOTELS & RESORTS

CAP JULUCA (5 star)
www.capjuluca.com

Cap Juluca has 72 Rooms and Suites, 6 Pool Villas. Moorish-style architecture, two miles of pristine white sand beach on Maundays Bay. The hotel has 3 restaurants: Spice (pan-Asian cuisine) in a Moroccan setting; Pimms (Eurobbean fusion) and Blue (casual dinner on the beach). A full menu of spa services allows guests to indulge in the privacy of their room or on the beach. The must-play Temenos Golf Club with its Greg Norman designed course is only 10 minutes away.
Optional Meal Plans:
Meal plan type: Continental Breakfast Plan (daily).
Meal plan type: Full breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Hotel Review: Cap Juluca is a gorgeus property! The name is derived from the rainbow god of Anguilla. The hotel has recently invested over $29 million dollars in new renovations. The front lobby opens up to a spectacular view of the beach area. They have a sunset terrace which overlooks the beach where you can enjoy your morning coffee or evening cocktails. The white sand beach is definitely one of the main selling features of this hotel. Guests can enjoy loungers that have thick pillows and cushions plus, complimentary non-motorized water activites. There is 18 villas that are spread out across Maundays Bay which is approximately 1 mile long. For every 3 villas, they have set up a private beach cabana which is managed by 2 staff members who offer clients free snacks, drinks and spritzers. Please note the hotel is planning to expand their wellness centre into a full spa with an infinity pool in the next 2 years. The villa accommodations are stunning – a perfect choice for couples or honeymooners. The hotel nightly entertainment takes place in the main lobby which features ”The Boss” – a very popular band.

CUISINART RESORT & SPA (5 star)
www.cuisinartresort.com

Cuisinart is located on Rendezvous Bay. The hotel has 93 rooms including oceanfront villas, each with spectacular views of the Caribbean. Choose casual or fine dining at the award-winning property’s two restaurants or learn the secrets of the Executive Chef’s Caribbean Cuisine at the exclusive Chef’s table. Fresh produce is provided by the resorts’ very own hydroponic farm complimented by a wine cellar that holds over 3,600 bottles. The Venus Spa has tripled in size with a 19,000 square-foot addition which includes 16 treatment rooms including hydrotherapy, a Thalasso pool and a fully equipped fitness center that has a yoga and pilates studio.
Optional Meal Plans:
Meal plan type: Continental Breakfast Plan (daily).
Meal plan type: Full Breakfast Plan (daily).
Meal plan type: Half Board Plan includes breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
Important Note: Beverages are not included. A 15% service charge on food is additional and is payable locally.

Hotel Review: Cuisinart opened in December 1999. They have a hydroponic farm where they grow their own herbs and produce. Clients can enjoy free Culinary classes that are offered 2 to 3 times per week in the Culinary theatre. Venus Spa - is a beautiful facility where clients can sit back, relax and enjoy getting pampered. The property consists of 3 storey villas; 3 junior suites on the ground floor, 3 junior suites on the 2nd floor and a combination of 1, 2 bedrooms plus, luxury suites on the 3rd floor. Please note the main building offers elevator access for guests. Cuisinart is a member of “The Leading Small Hotels of the World” it truly offers clients a very unique experience!

KU (3 star)
www.kuanguillanet.com

KU offers “Affordable Chic” South Beach meets St. Barts in an informal setting on an exquisite two mile beach on Shoal Bay East. It has 27 Suites including 1 and 2 bedroom suites featuring A/C and ceiling fans. All have balconies, oceanfront or oceanview with sitting/dining room, full kitchen, separate bedroom and bath. There is a new restaurant called “Kuyah” serves Mediterranean/Caribbean cruise. A Petit Spa, gym and dive shop complete the well rounded facilites.

Optional Meal Plans:

Meal plan type: European Plan (no meals).
Meal plan type: Continental Breakfast Plan (daily).
Meal plan type: Half Board Plan includes breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
Important note: Beverages are not included. A 15% service charge on food is additional and is payable locally.

Hotel Review: This is a solid 3 star property that offers good value for your money. The suites are very spacious and accommodate up to 4 passengers. The Petit Spa offers a variety of treatments by appointment only. They have a very nice gym facility that is fully equipped with cardio machines and weights. There is a mini market store right on the property where you can purchase food, juice and liquor.

PARADISE COVE RESORT (3 star)
www.paradise.ai

Paradise Cove is located at the south western end of Anguilla just a short walk from two beautiful beaches – Cove Bay and Rendezvous Bay West. This hotel is a perfect hideaway for familes, couples or business travelers. It offers a choice of 29 spacious 1 and 2 bedroom, luxurious penthouse and junior studio suites, each with a living and dining area, a fully equipped kitchenette (kitchenette in studio suites), a private balcony or patio, laundry facilities, telephone, internet access, cable TV, in room safety deposit boxes and clock/radios. All the bedrooms have their own bathroom with tub and shower, plus an extra half bath in each of the full suites. The hotel also offers a full range of facilities that includes (1) large swimming pool, 2 outdoor jacuzzis, a fully equipped fitness center and a 1200 square feet meeting/conference room that provides a great setting for a corporate retreat or weddings.

Hotel Review: This is a solid 3 star property that offers great value for money. The hotel lobby offers a first great impression – there is one restaurant that is open for all meals. Paradise Cove is not located on the beach however, the nearest one is only a 5 to 10 minute walk away. Please note the hotel does offer complimentary beach shuttle services for guests. There is 12 studios, 6 one bedroom units, 8 two bedrooms and 3 luxurious penthouse rooms. The studios offer a pool or garden view. Guests can request adjoining rooms prior to arrival. One special service that the hotel offers is that they will do the grocery shopping for their clients. Paradise Cove is part of “The Charming Escape Collection” – a perfect choice for families!

SIRENA RESORT & VILLAS (3 star)
www.sirenaresort.com

Sirena Resort is on Meads Bay, a quick 4 minute walk to a white-sand beach. The property offers a selection of Mediterranean-style accommodations; 20 rooms, 4 Junior Suites and 3 Villas. It features two freshwater swimming pools, a PADI Dive Center and a massage facility. Mahi Mahi restaurant focuses on fresh seafood influenced by Caribbean flavours.

Optional Meal Plans:

Meal plan type: Half Board Plan includes continental breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
Important Note: Beverages are not included. A 15% service charge on food is additional and is payable locally.

Hotel Review: Sirena Resort & Villas opened in 1989. It is a basic hotel that offers clean accommodations. All of the rooms have AC, flat screen TV’s, coffee maker and new renovated bathrooms. Please note this hotel is going to be closing down and reopening in Oct 2010 under a new name “Anacayona Boutique Hotel.” The upgrades are going to include a new open concept lobby, more suites and the lower beach pool area will be re-tiled and will feature a new jacuzzi.

CARIMAR BEACH CLUB (3 star)
www.carimar.com

Carimar Beach Club is located on Meads Bay Beach, within walking distance of some of the island’s best restaurants. It has 24 comfortably furnished villa style units includes a fully equipped kitchen within the comfort of over 1,100 square feet of living and patio space with views of the tropical gardens and the ocean. The hotel will arrange various activities, such as: fishing, windsurfing, diving, and sunset cruises for their guests. This hotel will be closed for annual maintenance from September 1 to October 31 2010.

Hotel Review: Carimar Beach Club is a great hotel that is located on an amazing beach in Meads Bay. The villa units are individually owned therefore, each room is decorated differently. The spacious accommodations have internet access plus, beach towels are stocked daily. The hotel’s club house offers washer/dryer services. Please note there is no restaurant on the property however, there are many dining options in the surrounding area.

BEACHES

“Anguilla is ranked number one world’s best all around beaches”

There is over 33 white sand beaches for strolling, snorkelling, sun bathing, scuba diving!

Meads Bay: Very scenic. Becoming a real estate Mecca.
Road Bay: For sunsets, beach bars, restaurants and night life.
Maundays Bay: Home to Anguilla’s newly renovated flagship resort – Cap Juluca.
Crocus Bay: Home to Anguilla’s new local restaurant that has burst on the scent with great food & entertainment.
Shoal Bay East: Truly spectacular. #1 beach in the Caribbean!
Shoal Bay West: Dazzling beach with great restaurants, resorts, striking villas and more!
Rendezvous Bay: 2km of pearl-white sand.
Meads Bay: Relax and watch a boat race.
Cove Bay: Shallow and clear and great for the kids.

GOLF

Temenos Golf Course is managed by Cap Juluca. It offers a Caribbean golf experience with Anguilla’s natural environment to present a golfer’s paradise. Designed by golf legend Greg Norman, this 7,063 yard, $50 million championship golf course serves as Anguilla’s only golf course. Green fees during peak times for the 2010 season are available for $225 per person. Play after 2pm costs $125 per person. For more information, visit www.capjuluca.com/golf.php.

WATER ACTIVITIES

There’s paddle boating, para-sailing, para/water-skiing, small catamaran/sunfish sailing; tuba deep-sea fishing and scuba diving. A “must do” is glass-bottom boating, see many colourful fish and coral!

WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS

You can choose to be married by Magistrate at the Court House or a Minister of religion at:
* a church * off-shore cay * beach * catamaran/sailboat or *resort/villa

Most hotels offer their own wedding and honeymoon packages!

Requirements:
- you need 2 working days to obtain a licence valued at $241.80US
- both parties must present proof of citizenship of resident country (passport, original birth certificate with photo ID)
- if divorced, an original or certified divorce decree
- an Anguilla stamp duty valued at $37.20US, from the General Post Office in the Valley
- 2 witnesses must be available for wedding ceremony

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Retro Trailers for Rent

Lisa Rogak for Trip Quips — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:20:00 +0000

I’ve always had a soft spot for Airstreams, those 1950s-era silver-bullet-shaped trailers that just seem to glide down the road.

Luckily, there are a growing number of places where you can actually spend the night in one that’s permanently parked. Here are a few:

*Awhile back, Kate Pierson of the B-52s launched Kate’s Lazy Meadow Motel in upstate New York, which has six Airstreams available for overnight stays. They’re all named, too: Tinkerbell, Bubbles, and Hairstream.

*In Joshua Tree, California, you’ll find Hicksville, with six non-Airstreams to choose from. My favorite: the Fifi, which gives you an idea of what living inside Jeannie’s bottle on I Dream of Jeannie must have been like.

*The Star of Texas B&B, in Brownwood, offers Room 55, a 1955-era 40-foot Spartan Park home. The plus: it’s furnished just as if it was brand-new — back in the mid-Fifties.

*Also in Texas, in Marfa, is El Cosmico, home to five trailers — the oldest is from 1950 — and a philosophy known as the Mananifesto. Sounds good to me.

*In Bisbee, Arizona, the Shady Dell has a whopping 11 trailers to choose from, though one is a bus, one is homemade, and one is actually a 1947 Chris Craft yacht.

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Sleeping with the Stars: Celebrity-Owned Hotels & Resorts

Lisa Rogak for Trip Quips — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:16:41 +0000

Who knew there were so many celebrities who owned hotels and resorts? Here are just a few:

*Gloria Estefan has not one but two hotels in Florida: Costa d’Este Beach Resort in Vero Beach, a 94-room luxury resort directly on the beach, and Cardozo Hotel on Ocean Drive in South Beach.

*Kate’s Lazy Meadow Motel & Suites in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York is owned by Kate Pierson of the B-52s

*Virgin impresario Richard Branson runs Necker Island, a private island in the British Virgin Islands. as well as a number of other properties around the world ranging from South Africa, Switzerland, and Morocco. They’re all listed here.

*Bono and The Edge lay claim to The Clarence Hotel in Dublin, Ireland.

*Utah’s Sundance Resort is owned by none other than Robert Redford.

*David Geffen has the Malibu Beach Inn in California, and of course, the one who basically started it all is Dolly Parton, with her eponymous Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Are there others where you’ve stayed? Leave a comment below!

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Post tags: Bono, Dollywood, Gloria Estefan, Richard Branson, Robert Redford

Extreme Loyalty in Bermuda

Lisa Rogak for Trip Quips — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:04:52 +0000

What kind of resort or hotel inspires such loyalty from its guests that some return again and again? Some even 85 times in less than a decade?

The Cambridge Beaches Resort in Bermuda is one such place. A 30-acre resort of gently-rolling hills where pink cottages with whitewashed roofs overlook the ocean, the overall feel of Cambridge mixes subdued British flavor with Bermudian laid-back feel. There’s high tea, a croquet court, a spa and four private beaches on the private peninsula.

I was particularly drawn to the wall of names displayed on a wall right outside Tamarisk, one of three restaurants at the resort. There on the red board appeared the names of guests who have stayed at Cambridge at least five times — dubbed Fivers — along with their hometowns and the date of their first visit. The majority came from the New York metro area and New England, and Toronto and the U.K.

Each name is written on its own red tile, and whenever a new name is added, there’s a great deal of shuffling that must occur so that everyone is kept in the proper date order.

The champs: Rear Admiral Thomas E. Burke and his wife from Cohasset, Massachusetts, are the only ones in the Eighty-FIver category. Their first visit was on November 20, 2004, which averages out to one visit about every 3-1/2 weeks.

Is there a resort or destination where you’re that loyal? Leave a comment below!

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Don’t Get Between a Brit & His Toast

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Post tags: Bermuda, cambridge beaches

Why You Should Head To Mexico NOW

Lisa Rogak for Trip Quips — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:22:48 +0000

Wall sculptures in the rooms at Casa Velas

It’s deja vu all over again, as Yogi Berra once said.

Here we go, more warnings from experts and government officials to avoid all of Mexico because of trouble up on the U.S. border. Doncha just love them?

I’ve written about overblown advisories before, and unfortunately, it looks like they’re here to stay. I traveled to Puerto Vallarta last August in the immediate aftermath of the swine flu hysteria and stayed at Casa Velas, part of the Grand Velas hotel group, and there are a couple of things I remember from that trip.

First, August notwithstanding, the place was pretty much deserted. Oh there were people there, but the majority were Mexicans and Europeans who have more of a imaginary-danger-be-damned perception about travel.

Second, the staffers I spoke with couldn’t understand why tourists were staying away when the swine flu epidemic was a) already history, and b) several hundred kilometers away. A few begged me to tell people about the reality.

I promised I would. But I didn’t think I’d have to repeat myself. So here goes:

Casa Velas is an all-inclusive boutique hotel tucked away from the beach, but guests have the option of hopping the shuttle to its larger sister property Velas Vallarta, right on the beach. In fact, we hopped back and forth between the two properties several times: at Casa, you can lounge by the pool with a drink in relative seclusion, and when you need a little more action, head over to Grand Velas, with four pools, loads of kids, and several restaurants to choose from; your all-inclusivity is reciprocal and includes meals at either place.

One morning, we signed up for an excursion with outfitter Vallarta Adventures for the daylong tour to Las Caletas, the company’s exclusive tropical beach hideaway on the southern shores of Banderas Bay. Las Caletas once served as John Huston’s estate, and the director first leased it in 1963 when filming Night of the Iguana with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor nearby.

Vallarta Adventures leased it about fifteen years ago, and it makes for a fun day trip. You can only get there by boat, and the hour-long cruise from downtown Puerto Vallarta aboard a first-class catamaran sped by with a crew who led the crowd in a round of goofy dances and charades. It worked: we were roaring and cheering like we were back in summer camp.

Once there, we kayaked, swam, lounged on the beach, and took a yoga class and watched a paella-cooking demonstration. All drinks are included as is a massive and tasty buffet lunch in an outdoor dining area overlooking the sea. There’s also a spa offering facials and massages on the cliffs overlooking the water.

I plan to head to Mexico again soon. You should, too.

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Post tags: casa velas, grand velas, mexico, puerto vallarta, travel advisories, velas vallarta

Absolutely Barbudaful

Lisa Rogak for Trip Quips — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:57:41 +0000

The breakfast room at Lighthouse Bay Resort

The first thing you need to know is that the airport code for Barbuda, a tiny island of 1500 people located 24 miles to the north of Antigua, is BBQ.

Tens of thousands of vacationers flock to Antigua each year. Like many Caribbean islands, a wealth of activities awaits, from diving to dining not to mention an active nightlife. While some may hear about Barbuda – Antigua’s sister island – few choose to make the trip, especially when they hear the population barely scratches 1500.

But it’s definitely worth it, since it is such an anomaly for the Caribbean: Barbuda is a country that is truly stuck in time, where chickens, donkeys and goats wander the streets and townspeople are friendly and eager to show you around.

For a taste of Barbuda’s laid-back nightlife, head for It’s A Bit Fishy!, a restaurant and nightclub where late-night karaoke standoffs between locals and visitors are the stuff of legend. And you absolutely can’t miss the Frigate Bird Sanctuary. In the mating season of late fall, the male proudly struts his puffed-out red throat pouch in order to attract the females that soar overhead.

There are several low-budget places to stay right on the island, but for a splurge that’s worth every penny, book a stay at the Lighthouse Bay Resort. With only nine guestrooms situated on a narrow spit of land with turquoise ocean on one side and restive lagoon on the other, Lighthouse Bay is one of the Caribbean’s smallest resorts and the supreme getaway.

Again, keep that BBQ in mind: Barbuda isn’t St. Martin… Once you accept that the general feel of the place assumes the laid-back feel of a lazy afternoon barbecue, you’ll do just fine.

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Post tags: Antigua, barbuda, caribbean

There’s Still Time for St. Martin

Lisa Rogak for Trip Quips — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:48:55 +0000

Meticulously conducting my research

Even though winter is slowly but surely loosening its grip, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for one more — or two — trips to the Caribbean. The good news is that prices have held steady, and that includes St. Martin.

Here are a few more reasons to book your trip now:

*Sunset Beach is always entertaining, whether you go there to watch the planes or the people.

*Hire a taxi for a few hours — mine cost around $70 — to take a tour of the island.

*Head to Orient Beach , the “notorious” nude beach on the French side. I say “notorious” because most of the people were clothed, save for one guy who started parading around in front of the sign when that’s all I wanted to take a picture of. A minute later, a guy who looked like a CIA agent sauntered by the cab to grill me…no pics allowed. The driver played dumb, as well he should have. His license could get pulled as a result.

*The differences between the Dutch side and French side are striking, and it’s fun to compare them with others you’re traveling with. The Dutch is one big party, with chain restaurants, frat boys, and traffic jams to boot. The French side is more rural, less developed, and well, more French. Head for Marigot, the main village on the French side, where you’ll have a hard time choosing between dozens of authentic bistros that line the Rue de la Republique.

*There is no prison on the French side. My driver told me that if the police are chasing a suspect who crosses over from the Dutch to the French side, s/he will receive fewer visitors since suspects captured on the French side will be shipped to Guadeloupe, a boatride or short flight away.

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Where I’ve Been

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Post tags: nude beach, sint maarten, st. martin

Twilight Tours in Washington State & Oregon

Lisa Rogak for Trip Quips — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:44:27 +0000

Ah, you just knew it had to happen.

Know a teenage girl who is absolutely enthralled with everything Bella and Edward? Or are you one of the legions of adult women who are secretly — or perhaps not-so-secretly — enamored with Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight books?

There’s a trip for that. Trek America is offering a camping adventure in the Pacific Northwest where Twilight enthusiasts can visit the true-to-life towns of Forks and La Push, along with a slew of other sites mentioned in the book and/or featured in the movies. It’s a twelve-day trip that serves as a total immersion into everything Vampire.

If your travel tastes run more towards the kind with indoor plumbing, never fear. The View Point Inn in the Columbia River Gorge, just 22 miles outside of Portland, will cater to Twilophiles as well, since the 2008 movie was actually filmed here. You’ll see the actual site in the movie where Bella and Edward declare their eternal love for each other, and you can even see your name in the place where it all first happened.

To raise funds for a new roof and chimney, The View Point Inn is offering 1,000 fans the chance to purchase a brick in the Inn’s Walk of Fame. A minimum of $100 will allow future guests to see your passion for Twilight, Bella and Edward’s love, and the Pacific Northwest in the form of a personalized brick with your name on it.

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Post tags: bella, edward, stephenie meyer, twilight

Get Thee To A Nunnery!

Lisa Rogak for Trip Quips — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:47:08 +0000

No sooner had I finished researching monasteries and nunneries that produce wine for a recent assignment over at Wine Enthusiast, than I started to see stories about them in other places.

Between travel and deadlines, magazines in my life tend to stack up. So I tend to read them all at once. And in every single issue that I recently plowed through from the stack from the last month, I read about an inn or hotel that had once served as a monastery or nunnery. Sometimes more than one was mentioned in the same issue.

I’m not talking about currently-active religious retreats where laypeople can head for a weekend — or longer — of silence and contemplation. I’m referring to buildings that were formerly used by these communities that were converted into inns, hotels and B&Bs all over the world. Here are a few:

Carmel Cove Inn sits on the shores of Deep Creek Lake in Swanton, Maryland, and was once a monastery for the Carmelite order.
Hotel El Convento in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has 58 rooms and dates back to 1646.
Hotel Santa Clara in Cartagena, Colombia, is even older, as the monastery in its previous life opened in 1621.
And The Hotel 1555 Malabia House, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is the first B&B in the city and previously served as a 19th century convent. The bathrooms today were kitchens for the nuns in its earlier incarnation.

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This is NOT Your Father’s Club Med

Lisa Rogak for Trip Quips — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:11:27 +0000

An oceanfront suite at the Jade

Way back in 1981, to celebrate my newfound freedom from home and school, I decided to spring for a solo trip to Club Med in Martinique. I went by myself because I knew when I got there, I’d have lots of opportunities to make new friends and explore new activities. After all, that’s what Club Med was all about.

To be blunt, the basic reason you went to Club Med back then was to get high and get laid. And at 18, what more could you want?

These days, of course, I am older and wiser now — at least in some areas (!) — and so in December, I trucked myself off to Club Med Cancun Yucatan and I was beyond pleasantly surprised.

Last summer, this particular Club Med spent six weeks overhauling a separate area and building in order to turn it into a luxury resort within a resort called Jade. It’s a private wing of oceanfront suites with a concierge at your beck and call, an infinity pool, and other little touches that made it seem a world away from the Club Med of my wayward youth. Guests take their meals in the main area, and the buffet meals with selections that changed daily were so good they blew me away since I’m a pretty picky eater. Authentic Mexican cuisine was offered along with continental, sushi, Italian, a carving station, fresh fruit, and it was truly wonderful. Not like the buffet food at most other all-inclusive resorts and cruise ships.

Even when the resort’s at full capacity, with 375 regular rooms and 55 Jade rooms filled, it still felt like there weren’t many other people there, aside from lunch and dinner, because there are so many things to do and the resort is really spread out.

I bravely explored Circus Camp, cheered on by a group of other writers. Roll tape:

In short, I’d go back to this Club Med or any of the others. But I’ll probably bypass the trapeze…

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Post tags: all inclusive, cancun, Club Med, mayan riviera, mexico, Trapeze, Yucatan