To say that time has been flying by would be the understatement of the year!  I have gone from updating my blog twice a month to not having written in close to 6 months.  During that time, so much has happened both personally and professionally.  But though it all I have still been able to travel and explore the world which is truly my passion.

Since my last post, I have travelled to Italy, Jamaica, and Mexico on two separate occasions.  I have stayed at and explored over 15 different hotels and resorts. These resort visits strengthen my knowledge and ability to serve you better.  Even when I take a family vacation, I carve out a day or two to complete site inspections and see the nearby resorts.  I have been told that I need to slow down and enjoy my vacations, but what people don’t know is I truly LOVE, LOVE, LOVE what I do.  I feel so lucky that my career provides me the opportunity to spend time in some of the most beautiful places in the world.  And on top of that, I can share some of that first-hand experience with you to help you pick the best vacation destination for YOU!

Here are a few of the highlights of some of the resorts I have stayed at this year:

The Grand at Moon Palace

This resort in Riviera Cancun is about a year old and I love how sophisticated and luxurious it feels.  From the moment you step into the Grand Lobby, you know that no expenses were spared to build this gorgeous resort.  Marble floors everywhere and the lobby bars’ blown glass light fixture, every design detail was meticulously thought out and executed.  I stayed in a Grand Deluxe Resort View and this room is so spacious, even for a family of 4.  Each room has a private balcony, 2 double beds, and an indoor whirlpool with a separate bathroom.  For an upgraded experience, you can choose a swim-out room, family suite, or the Presidential Suite that accommodates up to 6 guests.  I love that all rooms include 24-hour room service, an in-room liquor dispenser, a full mini-bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and complimentary snacks replenished daily.  When it comes to activities, there is an Awe-inspiring full-service spa, water-park, and the super fun Unique Day Club for adults.  With a one-week stay at this resort, I also had the opportunity to dine at each of the themed restaurants and enjoyed each one from the Lebanese restaurant Habibi, to the French, Italian, Mexican, Steakhouse and Asian. I even got to try cricket guacamole for the first time!  I have to say, this resort made it to my favourite list as it checks off so many items on my resort wish list.  To see more about what I am so excited about, click HERE for resort photos.

Azul Beach Resort Negril

I am a huge fan of boutique-style resorts and for two years in a row, we chose to spend our summer holiday at an Azul Resort, but this time in Jamaica.  We love the small and intimate feel of these properties and we couldn’t have been happier with our stay.  For a beach lover like myself, nothing beats Negril’s 7-mile beach, it’s powder white sand and crystal blue calm ocean. The resort only has 285 all Oceanview Suites so the personalized service was some of the best we ever received.  Within the first day, the concierge knew our names and the bartender knew our drink order – it doesn’t get better than that!  I loved the modern rooms and terrace that walked right onto the beach within seconds.  The children enjoyed the kid’s programs where they made tie-die t-shirts and conducted science experiments.    We dined and enjoyed authentic Jamaican cuisine (Jerk Chicken on the beach was a family favourite), Italian, Mediterranean, and Thai.  Karisma resorts always offer the best food stations of any all-inclusive resort and this time I found exotic fruits like papaya and guava at breakfast – what a treat!  To see for yourself what I am talking about, click HERE for resort photos.

Dreams Riviera Cancun

This resort had been on my travel wish list for a while and I finally had the opportunity to visit this AAA Four Diamond resort.  Normally, my trips are planned months in advance however, for this surprise mother-daughter holiday, I booked one day, and left the very next day!  How’s that for being spontaneous every once in a while!  For this short trip, Dreams Riviera Cancun was perfect as it’s only 20 minutes from the airport.  By noon we were at the resort enjoying lunch and the ocean breeze.  Although this resort is a little older, it’s well maintained and kept up to date so it didn’t feel old or dated.  The Preferred Club Concierge was friendly and efficient. The pools were large and entertaining. Our Preferred Club Ocean View room offered unobstructed vistas and had a whirlpool tub on the balcony.  This family-friendly resort also had a heated kids pool and a Mayan-themed Explorer’s Club.  The kids club featured a planetarium and Chichen Itza climbing wall.    As this was a mother-daughter trip, we also spent some time bonding at the spa.  We received the “Growing Up Together” Spa day package with a strawberry facial, body exfoliation, and back massage.  What a fantastic first spa experience together this was!  To get a feel for yourself, click HERE for resort photos.

I trust these reviews provide you with some inspiration to travel and enjoy the many wonderful places that are out there. I can go on and on and talk about some of the other properties I visited like Beaches Negril and Isla Mujeres. Both of these were spectacular and worth a full review but will need to save that for another time.

If you are thinking about travelling, don’t hesitate to contact me and we can discuss your travel expectations and which resort would suit you best.

Let’s start planning today! For more information, and assistance with your future vacation plans, schedule an appointment to chat with us HERE.

Happy Travels!