Our Review of Paradise Marina Maroma
Our recent trip included a short stop at Marina Maroma. On previous trips I’ve spent much more time there and done other activities, but this time we did the wave runners (jet skis). WHAT FUN!
Paradise Maroma is a place where you can go to indulge in many types of water and land activities. Visitors from most of the hotels in Cancun and the Riviera Maya make day trips here to go snorkeling, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, parasailing, speedboating, and many other activities that I’m just not thinking of at the moment.
On land there is horseback riding as well as ATVs to ride through the jungle. There is also a bar where the patrons swing on swings instead of sit on barstools. Fantastic food is also available at a restaurant there.
From your resort, you can buy a tour from your Lomas Travel representative that includes either a single activity at the marina or multiple activities. The van will come to your hotel and pick you up and bring you to the marina.
Also at Marina Maroma Paradise, is a beautiful wedding chapel. The chapel is right on the beach, so it is really the best of both worlds. You and your guests can be in the beautiful, shady chapel and yet you are right on the beach. Also, if you get married at Marina Maroma your wedding party could be not staying at the same hotel yet you could all attend the wedding easily.
We have had many wedding groups do group activities at Marina Maroma. For instance, I remember standing on the beach and watching a catamaran filled with a whole wedding party taking off over the beautiful Caribbean blue water. They were going out for drinks aboard a beautiful cruise as a prelude to a group beach dinner.
If you’re in Cancun or the Riviera Maya and you’re looking for a fun filled exciting day on the beach, you’ll find paradise at Marina Maroma.
Our Review of El Dorado Maroma
People ask me where my favorite place is, I always answer the same way. My favorite place to go is home at the end of every trip.
If they ask me about my favorite resort though, the answer is always “El Dorado Maroma”. Seriously, if I could be transported to a resort, I would always choose El Dorado Maroma.
Why? What makes El Dorado Maroma so great? Oh, let me count the ways:
1) Size: El Dorado Maroma is a small resort. Currently there are 72 suites. I personally love relaxing at a smaller resort. The feeling that I don’t know how to get somewhere I need to be makes me uneasy. At such a small resort I never feel that way. I can instantly relax. I don’t have to carry around a resort map and look for numbers on buildings to find where I need to be.
Another advantage of vacationing at a small resort is more personal service. The staff have less people to remember and serve.
2) Gourmet Inclusive: Like all of the El Dorado Resorts, El Dorado Maroma is Gourmet Inclusive. This means that the food you’ll enjoy will be far above the normal all inclusive fare. Even the 24 hour room service is to die for. You never have to worry about when restaurants are open (although they usually are). The food is simply amazing.
3) Service: One of the most impressive things you’ll experience at El Dorado Maroma is the amazing way the staff looks after you and really truly wants you to enjoy your time there. If you like bartenders who remember your drink, waiters who remember your name, housekeepers who remember that you need an extra towel and management who really truly goes the extra mile to make sure you’re happy and relaxed, then you’ll want to check out El Dorado Maroma.
If you need lots of noise and activity, then you might want to pick a different place. If you want to really relax and enjoy a slow pace for a while, then the El Dorado Maroma is somewhere you should consider.
Our Review of Barcelo Maya Colonial and Tropical
During our recent stay at the Barcelo Maya complex, we stayed at the Barcelo Maya Palace. As we toured all three properties, we decided that our favorite was the Barcelo Maya Colonial and Tropical. This conclusion has also been borne out by feedback from many clients over the years.
The Barcelo Maya Colonial & Tropical Beach has several features that make it a great choice for a vacation. They have a very nice Kids Water Park, a nice selection of restaurants, and a disco / night club on site. They also have a perfect location in the Barcelo Complex along a fantastic beach.
Not only will the kiddos get to play at the cool water park here, but they will also get to switch things up a bit and go play on the splash pad/ water park at the Barcelo Maya Beach. Staying here you and your family will have complete access to all of the restaurants and amenities at the Barcelo Maya Beach in addition to your home resort. That means more restaurants & shows for mom and dad to chose from and more parks, water slides, and kids clubs for the kiddos to chose from.
The Barcelo Maya Colonial & Tropical Beach boasts a great location. It sits directly between the Barcelo Maya Beach and the Barcelo Maya Palace. This resort has the best location to the Fitness Center, the Spa, and the Disco at the Complex. The resort overall has a great location. I would suggest that you upgrade to the premiere section to guarantee the shortest walk to water 
The Premiere Club also includes free internet and use of the Premiere Club lounge.
Again one of my absolute favorite things about this resort is the beach. They have one of the longest stretches of beaches in the Riviera Maya. Their beach is not only nice and long, but there are gorgeous streches with no rocks, or coral; they are just beautiful.
Our Review of Park Royal Cancun
Nicki and I just returned from Mexico where we saw and filmed 9 different hotels. I would say that the biggest standout of the trip was the Park Royal Cancun.
The Park Royal prices similar to hotels much lower in quality. This Cancun All Inclusive is simply beautiful. We got to each lunch at the main buffet and we were blown away by the food. You can see several shots of the food in the video.
Another feature of the hotel that was very impressive were the rooms. Besides being beautiful, they have so many suites that will accommodate large suites. What really struck me was that the hotel would be so perfect for bachelor and bachelorette parties.
The Ambassador Suite with a connecting room can accommodate up to 10 people and has a beautiful oceanfront balcony with a great big jacuzzi that overlooks the ocean.
Even the normal rooms are great though. The hotel has a really beautiful modern feel to it. When we were done touring, we got into our system to check out the various prices. The hotels that priced similar to the Park Royal were not even close to being as nice.
This is a hotel we’re going to be selling alot of.
Irie Feeling in Jamaica’s One Love Paradise
Philip Rose and our own Philip Banks at the Funjet Show 2010
Today we have a guest post from our very own, Philip Rose. Philip is our representative from the Jamaica Tourist Board. Currently, if you call our office and are put on hold, you will hear Philip talking about his home land of Jamaica.
I must admit my bias when I say I love Jamaica. Not only am I proud, patriotic and passionate (feeling my excitement already?), but this deep love for country inspired me to work for the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), responsible for promoting this unique destination overseas. Living in Dallas has its perks as many of you may know, but there is something about Jamaica that I can’t get enough of, and once you go, you know and would agree. There is a vibe and an energy in Jamaica, which can’t be experienced anywhere else in the world and difficult to find or replicate here. In Jamaica, we just know how to kick back, relax and unwind. On any visit, I guarantee you’ll be sure to hear the expression…No problem mon!
Being in the travel industry, one of the things I take into consideration when I am choosing which city or country I’ll visit next is safety and I am sure it is no different when you are thinking about whether to visit my homeland Jamaica. You can rest assured the destination remains a safe haven for visitors. As I often remind myself however, I must always have my “thinking cap” with me, and I would encourage everyone to do likewise whether they are in Jamaica or any other destination.
First time travelers are encouraged to ask questions from reliable sources: your travel agent, Jamaica travel specialists or a JTB sales representative and on arrival feel free to reach out to your hotel concierge. Our travel agents have been equipped with the latest news on deals and developments and can advise you on what to do and where to go in Jamaica.
Our six resort regions each offer a different experience which is sure to please, whether it is the tourist capital Montego Bay, the laid back Negril, Ocho Rios – the centre of attraction, picturesque Port Antonio, the off the beaten South Coast or the cultural capital Kingston. Come climb the falls, swim with the dolphins or hike up lush blue mountains and see for yourself why so many of our visitors keep coming back. In fact, we have the second highest percentage of repeat visitors in the Caribbean.
Jamaica holds a special place in my heart and it can for you too. After a first visit, soon you could become familiar with the nooks and crannies of what some have called “heaven on earth” — from where to get the best ackee and saltfish (Jamaica’s national dish) to hearing the best reggae on the island. Although I have lived away from Jamaica for a number of years, there are images and aromas that will always remain: the white sandy beaches in Ocho Rios framed by the Caribbean Sea, the spicy fragrances of Scotch Bonnet peppers from jerk chicken shacks, a cup of Blue Mountain coffee to start the day… and these I’ll always treasure. For me, this island is the paradise, so if pleasure is your passion, I invite you to come to Jamaica, where love lingers and the memories last a lifetime.
Feel free to contact me via email at prose@visitjamaica-usa.com if you have any questions. Be sure to check out our Facebook page www.facebook.com/visitjamaica , or send us a tweet @visitjamaicanow
What’s Up With This Seaweed?
Tips for a Seaweed Free Beach Vacation
I am not a scientist. I don’t even play one on TV. So, I don’t know all of the biological factors concerning seaweed and its function in the marine ecosystem. I don’t even know the scientific reasons why seaweed exists and the purpose of it washing up onto a sandy beach. I’m sure there is some great seaweed circle of life involved.
Here’s what I do know. Seaweed is a fact of life.
There isn’t a beach in a tropical destination where there isn’t seaweed somewhere lurking just off shore waiting to drift in. I roll my eyes when I see advice that explains that if you stay in a certain area a certain beach, you will avoid the seaweed. The fact is that seaweed is everywhere. So why on one vacation do you see more seaweed than on other vacations?
Mother Nature.
The tides and currents carry around the seaweed. The ocean is a mighty and unpredictable force. There are countless factors at work determining where the ocean will deposit seaweed. It’s the luck of the draw.
So, how can you help assure a pristine, seaweed free beach on your vacation? The best resorts actually employ people whose full time job it is to continually groom the beach. One of my favorites, the El Dorado Royale, employs three full time people who go up and down the beach raking seaweed and gathering it up.
Next time you’re wondering why one resort costs more than another? Keep in mind that there are many reasons besides the obvious ones like newer, nicer rooms and better food.
And, next time you find yourself on a pristine, seaweed free beach under a palapa with a frosty drink? Be thankful, and enjoy.
CocoLaPalm – Negril, Jamaica
I did this interview with Keith Kugler who represents CocoLaPalm resort in Negril Jamaica. A great little small resort, right on Seven Mile Beach….check it out!
Vacation Lost and Found
Where did I leave it?
Recently I got a call from a customer from Spain. He had left five very expensive dress shirts in a hotel room in Barcelona and asked me to call to try to track them down. Another friend recently left her laptop in an overhead carrier aboard a US Air flight. This summer we even had a customer leave her passport onboard a plane. I myself have managed to lose several cell phone chargers in hotel rooms.
Sadly, items lost while traveling are very rarely recovered. It does happen though. My friend with the lost laptop did get it back. A thoughtful flight attendant took it and somehow tracked her down. That is very much an exception rather than the rule though. This article from the New York Times entitled “Lost and Very Rarely Found” talks about this very issue.
If you find that you’ve lost an item, you do need to at least try to get the item back. If your item is left on an aircraft, contact the airlines lost and found department. Don’t get your hopes up though, items lost onboard aircraft are the least often found.
If you left your item at the hotel you may stand a slightly higher chance of retrieval. Call the hotel immediately and describe where the item that was left and where you think you left it. The odds of recovering your item are still dismally low, but its worth a try.
The best solution is to practice habits that minimize the risk of losing something in the first place.
For instance, one rule I follow is never, ever, ever put anything in the seat back pocket on the airplane. It is way too easy to forget things there in the rush to get off the plane. If it is something more valuable than, say, a magazine, put it in your pocket, or put it back in your carry on, or somewhere where you won’t leave it behind.
Another habit is to be organized at how you handle your important items while you’re traveling. Recently I made a video for Man On The Go about my blue mesh cube. That is one way I keep track of small valuable items while I’m traveling. (LINK)
The biggest point I want to make about lost items on vacation is…don’t take something it would break your heart to lose. Once a customer was lamenting that she’d lost $10,000.00 worth of jewelry on a trip. My first thought was “Why on earth would you take $10,000 worth of jewelry on vacation?” If you can’t bear to lose it, leave it home.
Finally, get travel insurance. Travel insurance will usually cover items you lose on your trip. You still need to be careful about taking expensive electronics or jewelry. If you do travel with these items you’ll want to get very specific with your insurance carrier about what they will and won’t cover. Sometimes you can purchase an additional rider to cover specific high end items.
Have you ever lost anything on vacation? Tell me about it in the comments.
