Travel and Selloffs

Identify your luggage!  Tie a distinctive ribbon on the handle of your suitcase to make identification simple as those hundreds of bags round the carousel.

Destination:  Puerto Plata – 5* RIU Bachata– 7 nights all Inclusive

PRICE:  $797 + tax

Source: Sunquest

Location: Turks and Caicos

Hotel: Club Med

Date Visited: March 15-22, 2008 (one week stay)

Room#: E2149 – Good location on the resort.  Interestingly, no rooms at this hotel have balconies or terraces. 

Weather Conditions: Weather was exceptional for the first three days until a tropical storm blew in that resulted in mixed sun and cloud conditions.  Evenings were a pleasant temperature as well.

Snorkeling:  Hotel provides a snorkel boat that goes out twice a day, 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.  We saw an assortment of very large fish, as well as octopi.    There is really no snorkeling right off of the resort beach, but I did see one very large starfish in this area.

Beach: Amazing!   Incredible large, white, sandy beach that goes for miles in each direction.  Perfect if you like to walk the beaches.  The ocean was a beautiful colour of turquoise.  Pictures do not do this beach and ocean water justice!  The hotel offers beach towels as well as sun umbrellas.

Food: Overall good.  Excellent breads of all kinds are offered at the main buffet, Grace Bay.  We did not like the beer, Turks Head, and preferred to buy Corona.   Liquors were of a good variety and you could get premium brands for an additional cost.  Sharkie’s Bar located at the beach’s edge, offered amazing entertainment an hour or so before sunset.

Service:  Good. Personal service upon arrival in that you get escorted to you room by a staff member who  provided helpful information.

Opinions/Tips:  Great little open-air shops and small pub are located directly off of the beach, just east of Club Med.  

Would I return: To Turks and Caicos Island definitely, but not necessarily to Club Med.

Place a plastic dry cleaner bag over your freshly pressed clothes for a wrinkle-free trip to your destination.  It really works! 

Departure: March 5, 2009

Destination:  Riviera Maya – 4* RIU Lupita– 7 nights all Inclusive

PRICE:  $727 + tax

Source: Sunquest / Signature

Keep in mind when purchasing a suitcase  to pay special attention to the WEIGHT of the suitcase.  Most airlines, especially charters, are very strict with the weight restriction of 20 kg per person, and will charge you big dollars for every kilogram you are over.  When you think you have found that ideal suitcase,  give it a lift with your finger, and you might be surprised how heavy it is when you start comparing it to others of the same size!

Location: Riviera Maya, Mexico

Hotel: Catalonia Yucatan

Date Visited: November 21 – 28, 2008 (one week stay)

Price Paid:  $549.00  each + tax. Booked 1 month before trip.

Room#: 3119 – Partial ocean view, plus pool view.  Room was small, no mini fridge.  I would not recommend this resort if you want to have three adults in a room.  Cot provided was very poor.

Weather Conditions: Very cool at night so bring a sweater and long pants, if you travel at this time of year.

Snorkeling:  On the lagoon side the snorkeling was poor; murky water with poor visibility.  Ocean side very good.

Beach: Swim shoes needed on ocean side, not required for lagoon area.  Many children at the lagoon beach area.   Ocean side chairs were situated side-by-side … way too close for my liking.  

Food: Overall very good.  Japanese Restaurant had the best selection of international liquor.

Service:  Excellent front desk service, food service was impressive, and bar service at the beach was a very nice touch!

Opinions/Tips:  You can walk easily to the marina where there is good shopping and small pubs.   

Would I return: Only if it was an amazing sell-off price.

DEPARTURE DATE:  Monday, February 23^rd, 2009 (7 nights – all inclusive)

DESTINATION:  Samana, D.R. – 4* Grand Paradise Samana

PRICE:  $697 + tax

SOURCE:  Sunquest.ca

2009 Georgian Bay Visitor Guide is now available for free by calling 1-800-263-7745 or you can download it at www.georgianbaytourism.on.ca.

Departure: January 31, 2009

PRICE:  $768.00 + tax

Source: Transat Holidays