SECRETS AKUMAL ADULTS-ONLY ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORT

SECRETS AKUMAL Adults-Only All-inclusive resort 

in the Riviera Maya

Special clients stayed at Secrets Akumal a few months ago.  I always ask for a review of the resorts so that I can share the information with my clients.

Below is a review of the Secrets Akumal in the Riviera Maya.

Thank you so much for your photos and review Fred and Julie!

Denise,

Here is some follow up for our trip to Secrets Akumal!  

How was your Ocean Front room?  I'd say ocean front is a pretty big stretch.  I would call it was ocean view.  But, we liked it.   We were in building #3.  The food?  The food was great.  We really enjoyed it!  There were plenty of options.

 

The Beach?  The beach was beautiful!  The seating was perfect!  And, I miss the waitress asking me what she can bring me. It wasn't too crowded and we were really happy.  I did a group snorkel with the resort and saw the guide was great at finding sea turtles.

We also saw a stingray and some beautiful fish and coral, just right off the beach.  There were lots of water activities available they had paddle boards, snorkel equipment, kayaks, and some see through boogy board type things.  We found out the night before we left that there were still lots of turtle nests on the beach and one lady told us there was a scientist out there one evening at a nest where the babies had hatched and said they would crawl out and head to the water at sunset. That would have been cool to see but we didn't know about it.  I'm sure that is something they don't want advertised.  

Thanks for the suggestion on the cups.  I got the 32 oz Ozark Trail Stainless Yeti style cups and also ordered some handles for them.  They were so helpful!  I had my refill before noon and at 6 pm I still had a little left and it was still frozen at the end of the day!

The service?  Great!  They were always polite and said 'my pleasure' etc.  The building concierge always called us by name when he saw us.  

 What restaurants did you like best?  We ate at the Seaside restaurant several times and it was always good.  Lots of menu options.  We ate at the Italian Restaurant - Portofina (or something like that)  twice.  It was really good.  I had the same thing both times.  We also ate at the Habachi and it was very good.  And the Mexican restaurant.  It was fine but was probably our 3rd favorite of the fine dining options.   The Market Restaurant was a wonderful buffet breakfast with anything you can want for breakfast.  Very good!  

Did you take any off-property excursions?  We did not.  But, we discussed that we would have if we had stayed longer.   We had been to Tulum in the past.  We just didn't want to leave the beach.   I heard from someone that if you walk down the beach just a bit that there was a walkway to some local shops etc.  I didn't go.  

We spent all of our time reading on the beach and eating and drinking.  

Would you recommend this resort to others?  Absolutely.  It was a wonderful experience and the grounds were absolutely beautiful.  I took some pictures but never felt like they could convey the lush beautiful grounds.  We didn't want to leave and we miss it!

It was a wonderful trip and we were very very happy! I've been telling people how wonderful it was!  We would love to take the kids back to that same area sometime maybe even next fall.  So, we will have to talk about options for that at some point.

Thanks so much for helping us make a great trip.  You certainly helped eliviate a lot of planning stress.  We will certainly be calling you again. 

Julie

I have gotten to visit this incredible adults-only all-inclusive resort and you can too.

Call Denise 314-660-3039

#allinclusiveresorts #adultsonlyresorts #mexico #rivieramaya #cancun #honeymoon #romanticgetaway #vacationpackages #travelforyouvacations #cheapvacations #travelforyou #beachvacations 

ASPEN

ASPEN COLORADO IS A WONDERFUL DESTINATION FOR SUMMER AND WINTER

MAROON BELLS

Have you been to Aspen, Colorado? I love Aspen. My son and daughter-in-law fell in love with each other in this magical city. Aspen in the summer is full of adventure.

Condos and hotels are available in town surrounded by beautiful mountains, outdoor cafes, shopping, hiking, biking and so much more.

Click on the video link:
ASPEN in the Summer video

Aspen Square Condominium Hotel is located in the heart of Aspen, CO offering easy access to hiking, biking, outdoor dining, shopping and so much more. My brother stayed at this resort and loved it.

CALL DENISE  for package pricing to Aspen, Colorado   314-660-3039

#colorado #aspen #summeradventure #biking #hiking #familyvacations#honeymoon #mountainvacations #romanticgetaways #travelforyou#travelforyouvacations #cheapvacations #summervacation

Norwegian 7-night Western Caribbean Sailing from New Orleans

NCL DAWN - Western Caribbean Sailing from New Orleans

Special clients had a wonderful time on their 7-night Western Caribbean Norwegian Cruise Line sailing in February!  The ship  departed from New Orleans so they went in a few days early to enjoy New Orleans.

Here is their cruise review:

Hi Denise-

The cruise was awesome!!!  The balcony room was perfect with enough drapery not to let the sunlight in before we got up.  We went on 3 excursions and all 3 were good for us.  Cozumel was Past, Present and Future museum which showed us different parts of Mexico in scaled models.  We saw the Best of Rotaan which took about 3 1/2 hours.  This was a little too much time driving in the van for me at least.  The best one was Marine life tour in an excursion boat in Belize.  The Guide on this one really made it fun and we got to see some Manatees!

We thought the food was great but we mainly went to the buffet.  I thought they had enough variety every day to try different things.  The other places recommended reservations and we didn’t feel like being on a schedule.  Some of the places cost extra too.

The Ultimate Beverage Package and $50 off per port/excursion worked out well for us.  It was awesome to see no bar tab at the end of the cruise.  I didn’t mind the add on 18% gratuity either.  Those bartenders worked their butts off and we got to know a few of them.

The only very small complaint I had was water pressure in the shower was low a couple of times in the late afternoon (down to a trickly) when everybody was getting back from the excursions and taking a shower.  The pressure stayed down for about 10 minutes and really wasn’t a problem, but could have been if I was in the middle of a shower!

 I’d recommend this cruise.  Plenty to do, lots of activities, shows and sights to see.  And we got lucky with perfect weather the whole time.

Thanks for setting this up for us.  Will definitely call you for the next time.  You’re the only travel agent I’ve got!

-Gary

CALL DENISE TO CONFIRM YOUR NEXT CRUISE  314-660-3039

#cruise #westerncaribbean #nclcruises #cozumel #roatan #neworleans #costamaya #belize #harvestcay #travelforyou #travelforyouvacations #familycruises #honeymoon #romanticgetaway

VALENTIN IMPERIAL MAYA

Special clients just returned from a wonderful stay at the 

VALENTIN IMPERIAL MAYA

Below is his Trip Advisor Review.

Hi Denise,

I posted a review on Trip Advisor today.

Great resort.  Spotless, perfect, etc.

The room was great.  This was the simplest “junior suite” they have.  The “silver suites” are further away, and it seems the only upgrade is a two-person Jacuzzi and double vanity.  The better suites face either the beach or a semi-private pool, but certainly not worth it for me.  The room was beautiful, large, with an elegant bathroom w/jacuzzi tub, and with excellent maid and turndown service. 24-hour room service available, but we didn’t order anything.  Stocked mini-bar included.

Beach was beautiful, private-like and well-maintained. (Beaches are federal property, but the hotel had a tractor turning the sand and clearing any debris several times a day.  Of course there was towel and bar service, and little palapas (thatch cabanas) for shade. Plus beach volleyball.  The sea was too rough when we were there, but they have kayaks and catamarans available.

Main pool was equally nice—large, centrally located, with poolside bars, towels and waiter service. Lots of pool chairs, some shade available, etc.

There are five themed restaurants—Japanese, Italian, French, Asian, Mexican, steakhouse/buffet/American. These are top notch.  The Italian was truly a 5-star experience—as good as any restaurant I’ve ever been to.  The beach steakhouse is the most pleasant, with excellent food. I’d say it is the best location for lunch. The others are more “themed” pastiche venues. The meals are well-presented, but not the best.  Service is top-notch all around. There is a wide variety of dishes available and they make a real effort to address food allergies or gluten-free choices. There are also light sandwiches and hotdogs, etc.

Lots of activities—exercise, cultural, shows. Really an enthusiastic entertainment staff. We saw an really top-notch magic show, an interesting acrobatic performance, aw a bit of the usual Mexican band, but skipped the Michael Jackson show. Two resorts down (Vidanta) they had Cirque du Soleil. We met a family staying there wo said it  was a fabulous show. (At the airport they had hawkers for a time-share there—and $250 cash premium, but it would have taken two hours and then we would have had to get a cab for to get there.)

I am not a “total inclusive” fan, because I would much rather explore the area, but this was really a great experience.

We took one excursion to Copa, which is a relatively new site, about 30 minutes inland from Tulum.  It was a good value, and an interesting experience. It has the tallest pyramid of the Yucatan, but I am told that it is to close shortly for restoration work, and might not be available.

We also took a cab to Playa del Carmen and the ferry to Cozumel. We rented a scooter and travelled around the island to the San Gervasio ruins and the beach.  The ruins were fun, but more so because we got there ourselves on the scooter. We stopped at a beachside bar/restaurant Senor Iguanas.  Its right at the end of the cross island road. Great food and good prices.

CONTACT DENISE AT TRAVEL FOR YOU TO CONFIRM YOUR NEXT VACATION 

314-660-3039

#rivieramaya #cancun #mexico #adultsonlyresort #allinclusiveresort #honeymoon #romanticgetaway #greatvacation #travelforyouvacations #travelforyou

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SECRETS MAROMA BEACH HONEYMOON - MASSMANN

My son and "daughter"-in-law honeymooned at the Secrets Maroma Beach Resort in the Riviera Maya in October.

"Secrets Maroma Beach was an amazing honeymoon. The resort was large enough that despite the fact that there was no vacancy, we never had a problem finding a palapa at the beach, a spot at the pool, a table at any of the restaurants, etc. The restaurants were all good, though the Italian and Hibachi were our favorites.

 

The beach is  beautiful and large and groomed in the mornings. The pols are also beautiful, with 1 swim-up pool, and a DJ. There's a mini gold course, soccer billiards, darts, ping pong, billiards...lots to do! There are hammocks and suspended nest loungers for relaxing.

 

  

The rooms were one of the best aspects of the resort. As an architect, I appreciate the open layout of the room, making it feel much larger and homely. Our swim-out pool was perfect for quick dips or relaxing by semi-private poolside. The luxury hydrotherapy spa was very relaxing.  

The AMStar staff was great about suggesting and booking excursions. We enjoyed Luxury Sailing and Snorkeling, Coba and Tulum tours, Xcaret park and dinner show, jungle zip lining and ATV riding, and Rio Secreto cavern exploration. They were all amazing in their own ways!

We highly recommend Secrets Maroma for your honeymoon or whatever vacation you're looking for! Perfect for lounging on the beach, exploring the mysterious ancient Mayan Riviera, adventuring through the jungle, or a combination of them all!"

Nick and Stephanie

Thank you so much Nick and Stephanie!

Contact Denise to confirm your dream Honeymoon.    314-660-3039

#honeymoon #rivieramaya #mexico #romanticgetaway #travelforyouvacations #travelforyou

DREAMS DOMINCUS LA ROMANA

DREAMS DOMINICUS LA ROMANA

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Dreams® Dominicus La Romana officially opened its doors to the first guests of the family-friendly resort on November 18, 2016. Roger and Beverly Wilson with their children Taylor and Joshua from Westchester, Pennsylvania were greeted by resort staff and participated in the resort's official ribbon cutting ceremony. Pictured from left to right: Luis Nuñez, Regional Commercial Director, Dominican Republic; Javier Tejada, Director General, United Capital (Owner); First guests Roger and Beverly Wilson with their children Taylor and Joshua; Fabrizio Frías, General Manager Dreams Dominicus La Romana and Javier Estelrich, Regional Vice President of Operations, Dominican Republic  Set on a picturesque beach in Bayahibe, the 391-suite resort is ideal for a luxurious family vacation or intimate romantic getaway. Its surroundings pay tribute to the lush La Romana landscape while offering guests elegant accommodations and ultimate rest and relaxation with the resort’s signature Unlimited-Luxury® offering. Guests can enjoy eight gourmet dining venues, 24-hour room service, a daily refreshed mini-bar, endless night and day activities, and more, all included with the exclusive vacation concept. The Dominican Republic has seen tremendous growth and remains one of the most highly sought-after vacation hot spots. The idyllic destination coupled with this serene, stylish and entertaining resort, offers travelers the ultimate experience. Dreams Dominicus La Romana provides guests with a host of activities to keep everyone entertained throughout their trips. With three pools and sun decks, visitors can spend a day soaking up the sun or enjoying outdoor recreation with tennis, aerobics, games and beach volleyball, to name a few. The top championship golf courses in the Caribbean are just minutes away including Teeth of the Dog, Dye Fore, The Links and La Estancia, all designed by world-famous golf course designer, Pete Dye. The kids are kept busy with fun-filled events through dedicated groups – the Explorer’s Club for Kids for ages 3 to 12, and the Core Zone Teens Club for ages 13 to 17. While the kids are at play, adults can enjoy alone time at Bordeaux, the resort’s adults-only gourmet restaurant serving elegant French cuisine, and at the sophisticated night club, Desires Music Lounge. Additionally, in the ultra-luxe Preferred Club, guests can find a serene escape in its exclusive adults-only area. The ultimate relaxation can be found in the Dreams Spa by Pevonia® with over 10,000 square feet of peaceful treatment spaces, gardens and hydrotherapy areas. Choose from a full menu of body treatments and massages to revive the mind, body and soul. DREAMS DOMINICUS LA ROMANA Contact Denise to confirm your Dominican Republic getaway 314-660-3039 #domnicanrepublic #dreamsresorts #allinclusiveresorts #puntacana #laromana #allinclusivevacations #travelforyou #travelforyouvacations #cheapvacations #honeymoon #romanticgetaways #familyvacations

ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S FREEDOM OF THE SEAS - WESTERN CARIBBEAN SAILING

These two couples just returned from a Western Caribbean sailing on board Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas.

Thank you so much for the great photos Jordan, Paula, Mike and Lory.  And an extra Thank You to Jordan for the review!

Hey Denise!   Besides the fact that it rained 6 out of 7 days, we had a great time. Here are some photos...I even took one with your yellow bag!   


Here's a recap:

Food - Evening meals were excellent and the dining room service way exceeded our expectations.  The staff was fantastic.  I'd give the evening dining experience a 10 out of 10 for sure.  Breakfast and lunch in the Windjammer (buffet) were average, maybe 6 out of 10.   Food quality was OK, but not a lot of variety from day to day and it was very crowded.  I called it the "feeding frenzy"! 

Activities - Obviously lots to do every day.  Outside of the normal boat activities, we did 2 excursions - the first one was done directly thru the ship and it was the River Raft in Jamaica.  It was pretty bad...very short and we spent way more time waiting around than actually rafting.  The raft itself barely lasted 30 minutes, and hardly any rapids.   I would definitely NOT recommend that to anyone.   I give it a 1 out of 10.  

The next one we did on our own - ATV's in Cozmel.  Highly recommended, it was a blast. I'd give it a 9 out of 10, just because it could have lasted a bit longer.  We rode for maybe an hour.  It even included a tequila tasting.  Staff was very friendly. 

The cruise director was awesome, very energetic and great personality.  Mike & Lory have been on about 8 cruises and they said he was the best cruise director they've ever had by far.

Entertainment - the shows were really good.  In comparison, way better talent than we've ever seen at an all-inclusive resort.  The singers, dancers, and musicians were top notch and could have performed anywhere.  The costumes/wardrobes and stage sets were excellent.  Overall, extremely impressive and far exceeded our expectations.  10 out of 10 

State Rooms - Excellent!  Way exceeded what we were expecting.  Plenty of space!  Having an outside balcony is the only way to go, I can't even imagine getting an inside room. 

                     

Cleanliness - Also excellent.  The whole boat was very well maintained and clean.  They had hand sanitizer stations everywhere.  I even did a galley tour and the kitchens were spotless.  And I'm a former restaurant guy, so that's a big deal to me! 

The week went way too fast, of course.  We still like the all-inclusives better, but there will definitely be another cruise sometime in our future.  It was very impressive, and I love being on the water.  Thanks again for everything, and for getting us rooms next to each other, that was fun also.  JK

Cruising is a wonderful way to see many destinations each day as you arrive in a new port of call.  A great way to see the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Asia, Panama Canal, Central and South America and so much more!

Call Denise to confirm your next dream cruise.    314-660-3039

#cruise #caribbeancruise #alaskacruise #europecruise #panamacanalcruise #europe #asia #alaska #panamacanal #centralamerica #southamerica #caribbean