My Review of Iberostar Cancun
Iberostar Cancun
Iberostar Hotels and Resorts, operator of seven resorts in the Riviera Maya, hasn’t had a presence in Cancun. Until now.
Iberostar Cancun just opened in December. While it is not a new build (it is formerly the Cancun Hilton) it was completely redone for the new opening. While we were there, the hotel was quite full because of a big gymnastics competition that had traditionally come when it was the Hilton, and decided to continue on with the Iberostar.
Pools at Iberostar Cancun
As you can see, it was a cloudy day the day we were there. Actually, when you’re touring hotels, a cool cloudy day is the best. Most days in Cancun are nice and sunny.
Looking out toward the beach at Iberostar Cancun
If you’ve ever been to Cancun, you might remember the very best part of the beach. It’s the part where you see that public beach where all the locals go. As you’ve passed it in your transfer between airport and hotel you might have pondered how they saved the very whitest sand and bluest water for themselves? Well, the Iberostar is next door to that beach. Simply beautiful.
Lobby Bar at Iberostar Cancun
In this shot of the lobby bar you can get an idea of the colors of the lobby.
Pools and Beach at Iberostar Cancun
Here’s another photo of the pools and looking out onto that amazing beach.
Guest Room at Iberostar Cancun
The standard rooms at Iberostar Cancun are Oceanview. Nice looking, right?
Finally, here is a video of our experience at Iberostar Cancun:
Review of Sens Del Mar
The Entry of the Sens Del Mar
Recently, we were invited down to visit all of the Oasis properties in Cancun. The main reason they wanted us to come was because of the re-opening of the property now called “Sens del Mar”.
Sens del Mar is a new name for this property. The owners put new investment into this property and have re-opened it as an adult oriented property. I say “Adult Oriented” because, while they don’t offer children’s rates or any facilities for them whatsoever, they do allow children. There were only a couple on property while we were there, but then again occupancy was quite low overall.
The lobby was very contemporary looking and was dominated by a large sculpture in the middle. Oversized chairs and sofas also dot the lobby. One of the hotels Smart Cars is also parked in the lobby to promote the promotion whereby guests staying in the VIP room category are entitled to the use of one of the fleet of Smart Cars. The Smart Cars are subject to availability and, in fact, we were told while we were there that there were none available. Also in the lobby a lobby bar.
Lobby at Sens Del Mar
Several of the restaurants are reached by taking a flight of stairs down from the lobby. We did ask and were told that there was no accessible way to reach the restaurants, so keep that in mind if anyone in your party has mobility issues.
Restaurant at Sens Del Mar
Speaking of restaurants, most of the food we ate at the restaurant during our stay was very very good. The hotel offers 24 hour room service as well. I did order it one night and found it quite acceptable. There weren’t printed room service menus. You call the room service department and they describe the offerings of the moment. I’m not sure if that will be the case permanently or if the printed material just wasn’t in place yet.
Room at Sens Del Mar
In fact, there was no printed material in the rooms at all. We were placed in the VIP section where each room has an amazing balcony with a jetted pool and lounge chairs. Since we were there in January, it was great to be in my room and have the big sliding glass door open and watching the sheer white curtains billow in with the breeze of the Caribbean Sea. That balcony really made the room. There is an interesting feature on the wall behind the bed. There is the “swoop” where they’ve installed a light feature that you can set to whatever color you want, or you can set it to change at whatever speed you set.
The room has a small dorm type refrigerator that is stocked daily with an assortment of water, soda and beer. If you want more than what is put there daily, there is a charge. I also used that dorm fridge to put my suitcase while I unpacked because there were no luggage stands in the room. Kudos to them, however, for choosing to have hangars that can be removed from the closet rod. (One of my pet peeves.)
The towels in the bathroom were nice and big. There was a built in hair dryer too.
My favorite part about the room by far was that, attached to the big flat screen TV was a cable box that allowed me to pause live TV. One of my biggest frustrations is that when I watch a show while in a hotel room is that I can’t pause it like I can at home. This was a fabulous discovery while I was in my room at night editing pictures and video. I know you probably won’t be spending hours editing photos and video while on your vacation, but you might find it helpful at some point too.
Overall, Sens Del Mar was a good property. The timeshare desk in the lobby was somewhat aggressive, but if you don’t mind ignoring that, you’ll have a great vacation at Sens Del Mar.
Pool at Sens Del Mar
Newly Resdesigned MiHotelito Category at El Dorado Maroma
On our recent trip to Cancun, we also took a quick trip down to a couple of our favorite resorts in the Riviera Maya. We were very excited to see the newly redesigned “MiHotelito Beachfront” room category at El Dorado Maroma.
I don’t know how they did it, but somehow the way they rearranged everything makes those rooms that used to feel so tiny, feel very roomy! I also love the Pineda Covalin scarves made into pillows for the bed. Each of those pillows probably costs hundreds of dollars.
The creamy yellow walls lend warmth and tie the whole room together. The beds are to die for, as usual. These rooms are the only ones in the whole El Dorado brand that don’t have in room Jacuzzis, but the private terrace and proximity to the pool, swim up bar and beach make these rooms a great choice.
Take a look:
ATVs at Paradise Maroma
While we were in Cancun this past weekend, we had the opportunity to do the ATVs through the jungle at Paradise Maroma. They gave us the choice between the ATVs and speedboats. Nicki and Erin decided on the ATVs.
I think the tour lasted an hour and a half. There were paths through the jungle where we followed the leader through the whole thing. Of course, Nicki was a wild person and was fishtailing whenever possible. I was the last one in the group, which was fine by me because I didn’t want to feel pressure to go faster than I was going. Much of the time I couldn’t even see the group because I was so far behind. They stopped every so often though to let me catch up.
The whole time I was riding I could only keep thinking, “It’s high season, I have no time to heal…”
They do provide a helmet, so I guess my brains would have been fine. Here are some pictures from our adventure.
Erin Getting Her ATV Unstuck
Erin and Nicki, Ready to Roll
Through the Jungle
Review of Renovations at Azul Beach Hotel
This past Saturday, myself and a couple of our agents went to see hotels in Cancun as well as couple in the Riviera Maya. One of the ones we made time to see is Azul Beach Hotel. I’ve seen it a couple of times as the renovations have been in progress and, now that they’re almost complete, I must say I continue to be blown away. Let me show you what we saw:
New lounge area off the main lobby of Azul Beach Hotel
This is a picture of one side of the new lounge area they’ve built right past the main lobby. It’s just beautiful and makes the lobby so much more open.
View from Main Lobby - Azul Beach Hotel
This is the view from inside the main lobby. See the ocean? Isn’t it pretty? The hotel is using this area as a “Plan B” venue for weddings in case of rain. Lots of brides are using this as their main choice of wedding venue, too!
Here are some restaurant pictures. Breathtaking, right?
Restaurant at Azul Beach
Italian Restaurant - Azul Beach Hotel
Then here are pictures of a family suite. The honeymoon suite is the same, except for no trundle bed and the honeymoon suites are oceanview.
Bathtub in Family Suite or Honeymoon Suite at Azul Beach Hotel
Family Suite or Honeymoon Suite at Azul Beach Hotel
Azul Beach Hotel has always been a favorite. Now it’s better than ever.
Seven Travel Resolutions for 2012
1) Travel
Make travel a priority in 2012. Stop waiting until you feel like you can afford it. Stop waiting until you lose that last 10 (20..30…) pounds. There isn’t a better time in your life to travel than right now. You’re not getting any younger and your kids aren’t either.
2) Don’t Cut Corners
Don’t pick a hotel or resort because it’s the cheapest. Work with an agent who really knows the ends and outs of where you want to go. Tell them what is actually important to you along with the budget you’d really like to stay within. Get the travel insurance. Consider nonstop transfers if they’re available in your destination.
3) Use an agent
An agent can make the difference between an uninformed choice and a perfect match.
4) Book Early
Waiting to book your trip is unlikely to make it better or more affordable. If you wait until the last minute it’s like trying to find your wedding dress on a clearance rack. You just have other people’s leftovers to choose from. Also, with travel, the best deals are usually had by booking early. Once in a blue moon there is a great last minute deal. It happens just often enough to keep the urban legend alive. Don’t count on it.
5) Pack Mindfully
Think about what you really need to bring and what you don’t. Find out what is available at your resort so that you don’t duplicate. Think about each item you bring rather than just throwing a few things in a suitcase.
6) Pick Travel Dates Mindfully
People are always asking how to get a good deal with travel. We always tell them, “It’s simple. Just do what others don’t do.” That’s the truth. Travel when others don’t want to (or be prepared to pay the cost and give up the convenience of traveling during peak time).
7) Get to the airport early
Getting to the airport at the last minute, being stressed in the check-in line and the security line and running to the gate are all horrible ways to start your vacation. Get to the airport early and give yourself the gift of a relaxing start to your trip.
What else? Let us know in the comments.
Things Travel Agents Wish Consumers Knew
The definition of an agent: As your agent, we represent you in finding the best vacation and doing our best to see that the vacation process goes well for you. We are not in control of many of the factors of the vacation. For instance, the airline can change your schedule.
Hotel Room Requests: Unless the feature you are wanting is guaranteed for that room type, your request is a request. For instance, bedding type (one king vs. two doubles) is almost never guaranteed. It is up to the hotel to fulfill the requests that we give them on your behalf.
Relationships: We work hard to develop relationships with suppliers and hoteliers so that we have the resources we need to fulfill a special request, or solve a complex problem. These relationships mean that your requests go directly to key people so that they are given the attention they deserve.
Airlines: Airlines can change fares at any time. Airlines can change schedules at any time.
Price Changes: Until you book your trip, the price on it can chanage at any time.
Last Minute Deals: Most people do not gain anything by waiting to book their trip. Most deals are had further in advance. (It happens just often enough to keep people talking about it. Most people get burned by waiting.)
Payment Advantage: I wish people knew that by booking with us they are usually able to do a small deposit and pay their trips out until final payment time.
Motivation: I wish clients would understand that we really do have their best interests at heart. We want their repeat business and we love referrals. Our main motivation is pleasing you.
Budget: Giving us a budget really is helpful. If we know what you’re trying to stay within it helps us find the right thing for you. If your budget is way too high or way too low, we’ll be honest with you.
Problem Resolution: Working with us gives you an advantage if you encounter any problems. Oftentimes we have the relationships that will help smooth things out. Also, since vacations are all we do, we’ve probably encountered the problem you’ve got and we know how to fix it.
Saving time in research: When we’re researching your trip, we can do it faster than you can because its all we do all day. We can quickly check several alternatives to see what is the best for you. Also, if you work with us and someone needs to sit on hold to find the answer to a question, it’s us rather than you.
Travel Insurance: I wish people knew that travel insurance is very important. When we offer it to you, it isn’t because we are wanting to sell you something additional. It is because we do this day in and day out and we’ve seen everything that can happen.
Assigned Seats: We spend a great deal of time dealing with assigned seats. We are limited to assigning you seats that are available. If acceptable seats are not currently available, we will continue to check back until something becomes available.
Why work with an agent: I wish people knew that the main reason to work with an agent doesn’t have to do with price. Our prices are competitive, but that isn’t the main reason that we are a great asset in planning your vacation.
What do you have to add? Put it in the comments.
Travel Tips for Europe
Tips for Traveling to Europe
Recently I wrote a handout to give to people for whom we arrange trips to Europe. I thought I’d share it with you here!
As you prepare for your trip to Europe, please allow us to share with you some tips that we’ve learned from prior trips. These are all just suggestions. You might not find each of these items or suggestions useful, and there may be something else that you find to be vital. We’d love to hear your feedback.
Health:
Basic medicines – In a foreign country your familiar brand of cold medicine won’t be available. Even if something similar is available, you may not know it because the label may not be in English.
Travel Insurance - Your health insurance may or may not cover you overseas. Even if it does, you will have to pay out of pocket for anything that happens and hope to be reimbursed (at the out of network rate) upon your return.
Safety / Security:
Make color copies of your passport prior to your departure. Put a set in your suitcase and leave another set with a trusted friend at home. (Having these copies will speed the process of replacing your passport in the event you lose yours.)
European touring doesn’t lend itself to carrying a purse. Instead, bring a daypack or travel bag of some kind. When choosing this bag, keep in mind body mechanics and security. You can find bags that are reinforced with metal cables so that they can’t be quickly cut from your body by a thief on the move. I’ve never had anyone even try to cut a purse off my body..but you never know.
Consider a money belt. Wearing your extra credit card, your big money and your passport in a money belt under your clothes. It will be with you at all times and protected from pick pocketers.
Cost Savings:
You may save some dollars if you bring a water bottle with you and refill it along the way.
Beware when you rent a car. Only take additional coverages if you actually intend to. Car rental counter people tend to rush through the rental process and have been known to trick you into buying coverages that you don’t need. Find out what your own car insurance covers before you leave and make yourself familiar with the laws of the country to which you are traveling.
Get your cash from ATMs rather than “Cambio” booths. (Talk to your bank to find out what they charge for international transactions. Also, warn them and your credit card companies that you’re going to be out of town so they don’t fraud alert your card.
Comfort:
We’ve tried to arrange for perfect weather during your trip, but you might want to pack an umbrella or a rain poncho.
Depending on the type of place you’re staying, don’t count on the little travel sized toiletries that you find at the hotels here. Take a small bottle of shampoo, lotion, etc to make sure you’re covered.
Wash cloths are primarily an American phenomenon. You won’t find them even at very nice hotels in Europe.
Remember sunscreen and sunglasses.
In cool weather, dress in layers. Layers are easier to pack, and easier to take off and put on as your comfort requires.
Pack Ziploc bags of varying sizes. You will find them handy for all sorts of things.
Be sure the shoes you take to wear while touring are nice and broken in. New shoes may cause blisters.
Speaking of blisters, pack a supply of band-aids. We especially like the band-aid brand blister bandages. They are magical when you have a fresh blister and are looking at getting up and doing it all over again tomorrow.
Communication:
Call your cell provider before you go. Find out what your particular situation is with regard to voice calls and data. Add an international data plan if you need / want to. Turn off data roaming if you don’t want to use it.
If you don’t want to use your cell phone at all, http://www.lonelyplanet.ekit.com/ekit/home is a good way to keep in touch with home.
Energy:
Your camera and cell phone will continue to need power (probably more than usual!) while you’re on the road. Look at the power supply and see if it will accept European voltage. If you’re unsure, ask the manufacturer. If it will accept European voltage, you’ll only need an adapter to physically make the cord fit into the power outlet. If it does not, you’ll also need a converter to convert European voltage to US voltage.
Be especially careful with hair appliances. More than one client has burned hair from an overheated hair appliance, even one plugged into a converter. I’m not saying that every hotel room will have a hair dryer, but every hotel room in Europe I’ve ever been with has had a hair dryer. If you absolutely must use a straightener, I would recommend investing in one with dual voltage.
Logistics:
Bring a journal. You’d be amazed out how quickly you can forget the details! Writing down the name of the hotels where you stayed, the restaurants you enjoyed or the name of your gondolier, as well as other details, can help you recollect your trip more completely later. It also helps when you’re documenting your pictures later.
A laminated foldable city map is great to have. Most of them have a map of the subway system as well.
Finally, a small compass (even a small cheap one) can be a lifesaver when navigating around a city where you’re not sure which way is north.
Dealing With After Travel Issues
A big part of my duties include following up on issues that happen during people’s vacations. Most vacations come off without a hitch, but things do happen.
Some issues are unique. For instance today I talked to the mother of a bride where her only complaint about the resort where her daughter’s destination wedding was held that they couldn’t smoke the cigars that the cigar roller rolled because the tobacco leaves weren’t dry. I’ve never heard that before. I’ll probably never hear it again.
Most complaints, though, fit into one of several categories. Here are the most common after travel complaints I deal with.
Didn’t Receive Added Values: A popular sort of promotion is where you get something additional thrown in when you book a room. Maybe a resort credit, maybe a tour, maybe an upgrade to nonstoptransfers. A very regular complaint is that those added values weren’t received. Just today I am working on a $250 resort credit that didn’t materialize.
Didn’t Receive Room as Booked: Another common complaint is that the resort didn’t give them the room that they paid for. For instance, if you paid for a water view and didn’t get it. Or, for instance, that you wanted a king bed and got two doubles. Or vice versa.
Another common complaint that has to do with room assignment has to do with the difference between Oceanview vs Oceanfront rooms. You can read about that here.
Maybe the biggest complaint having to do with rooms concerns upgrades. A very common feature of promotions is a “upgrade – based on availability”. People don’t tend to hear the “based on availability” part. They only hear that they’re getting an upgrade.
Transfer Issues: On packages where transfers are included, sometimes the transfers are the issue. Sometimes customers don’t catch their transfers. Sometimes the transfer operator doesn’t have the passenger on the manifest. Many times, customers don’t appear in the lobby for their return transfer until after the appointed time and the drive has to leave them.
How can you avoid having an after travel issue?
If you’re expecting an added value of any kind, be sure you have documentation reflecting that added value. Be sure to clarify the conditions surrounding any upgrades you’re expecting. Be very clear about the procedure surrounding catching your transfer. (It is probably outlined in your documents. Ask your agent about anything that isn’t clear.)
If you’re on vacation and start to face something unexpected, there are things you can do to make sure you have the best outcome possible.
1) Be nice. Your mother was right. You do catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. I like to visualize “velvet over steel”. I want to be very nice, yet very strong.
2) Utilize your resources. If you bought a package from us, you probably have a representative at the hotel. Contact them and ask for help resolving whatever the issue is. Also, many times we are able to resolve issues from here if you call us and tell us what’s going on. It’s much easier to fix something while it’s happening than when it’s ancient history.
3) Keep records. As you’re going through the situation, keep track of the names of who you talk to and any money you spent to rectify the situation. This will also help with resolution.
What is a Charter Flight?
What is a charter flight?
When you call our office about a prospective trip, we are likely to offer you an option that includes a “charter” flight. Sometimes that term scares and confuses people. So, allow me to explain.
A charter flight IS NOT your family and some guy named Mack on a crop duster winging your way to your destination. (That seems to be what scares some people.)
A charter flight is when a tour operator (something like Funjet Vacations or Apple Vacations) goes to an airline and says, “Hey, dude! I see that you have that nice shiny plane that isn’t doing anything next summer. How about if I pay you to fly it to and from Cancun all summer? How much will you charge me for that?”
Then the owner of that bright shiny airplane and the tour operator make a deal as to how much it will cost. Then, the tour operator divides the number of seats into the cost, marks it up to make a profit (since this is the great USA, the land of opportunity) and they proceed to sell those seats along with hotel packages.
There are several advantages of choosing charter flights over scheduled carriers like American or Continental.
Cost: Charter flights sometimes cost less than scheduled carriers.
Bag Fees: Sometimes, but not always, bag fees are included in a charter flight.
Convenience: Charters are nonstop to the destination.
Name Changes: Charter flights usually allow name changes, whereas scheduled carriers do not.
Low Deposit: Charter flights only require a small deposit, with the final payment due usually 45 days prior to the trip. Many times scheduled carriers require that you pay the flight portion in full at the time of booking.
Charter flights are a great part of a great vacation!
