Departure: January 31, 2009
Destination: Santa Clara, Cuba – 4-1/2* Melia Cayo Santa Maria– 7 nights all Inclusive
PRICE: $768.00 + tax
Source: Transat Holidays
May
29
Winter 2009 Vacation Package Update – Hondura / Roatan
Air Transat Vacations will be releasing their Honduras trip dates and prices towards the end of June 2009. Flight schedules will be available in July 2009.
May
06
Sue’s Reviews
Location: Santa Clara, Cuba
Hotel: Melia Cayo Santa Maria
Date Visited: November 22 – 29, 2004
Price Paid: $512.00 each plus tax. What a bargain! Booked 16 days before departure.
Room#: 1612 – ground floor, good location, large rooms, but with a poor view. I would request a second floor room next time. The rooms were huge with a front foyer supplied with an umbrella (excellent idea), separate washroom and sink area.
Weather Conditions: 85 degrees every day (with the exception of one cloudy day).
Restaurants: Food was okay. They did provide a lobster dinner one evening which was good.
Snorkeling: Could find no area to snorkel at this resort.
Beach: Phenomenal! Crystal clear ocean water. Bonus there were lifeguards actually stationed on this beach. One draw back – no beach bar in November when we were there, but it was low season.
Opinions/Tips: Food was so-so. They did have a lobster night and it was good. Nightly entertainment was excellent, very talented dancers. Sister hotel next door, Sol Club had a fun disco.
Would I Return: For Sure!
Apr
24
Sue’s Reviews
Location: Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Hotel: Sosua Bay Hotel
Date Visited: February 2 – February 9, 2004
Price Paid: $871.00 each plus tax. Booked eleven days before departure.
Room#: 3702 – very good view, but no balcony!
Weather Conditions: Warm and sunny.
Restaurants: Food was VERY good.
Snorkeling: Good, but need to walk down to the far end of the public beach and snorkel from there.
Opinions/Tips: A lot of stairs at this resort (114 from the beach to our room). Jacuzzi was very large but not hot. Swimming pool was quite cool, but a great infinity pool with a wonderful view. The beach directly in front of the hotel was small, and a poor area to go in swimming (large coral and rocks). You can walk down the public beach where there is a nice sandy shoreline. You must take the shuttle to the Cararete beach as the kite-boarding and windsailing is amazing to watch.
Snorkeling: Good, but need to walk down to the far end of the public beach and snorkel from there.
Would I Return: Yes, if the price was right because of the food and the snorkeling; but No because of the beach in front of the hotel.
Apr
23
Sue’s Reviews
Location: Holguin, Cuba
Hotel: LTI Coste Verde (currently known as Blau Costa Verde)
Date Visited: Nov.30 – December 7, 2003
Price Paid: $722.00 each plus tax. Booked ten days before departure
Room#: 3415 – Third floor room with good view of pool and you could see the ocean
Weather Conditions: Mixed weather this week; mostly cloudy periods with sunny breaks, a full miserable day of rain, with cooler temperatures on our last day there.
Restaurants: Italian restaurant was very good; Cuban restaurant had a great shrimp cocktail but dinner was just so-so; buffet food was very good. Be sure to try the potato salad!
Snorkeling: Very good, easy access right from the beach.
Opinions/Tips: Must bring swim shoes to this beach. Overall a small, quiet resort with great service.
Would I Return: Yes
Apr
17
Sue’s Reviews
Location: Cayo Coco, Cuba
Hotel: Tryp Cayo Coco
Price Paid: $815.00 each + tax. Booked 1-1/2 weeks before departure.
Room#: 710 – Great location if you like to be by the pool. The room was ground floor and close to everything.
Date Visited: January 18, 2003 (one week stay)
Weather Conditions: Very cool at night so bring a sweater and long pants.
Snorkeling: Did not go here, water too rough.
Opinions/Tips: Power is 220 not 110 like home so a converter is needed. Great Spanish Coffees, and the pizza restaurant was excellent.
Would I return: Yes, if a good sell-off became available.
Mar
02
Sue’s Review – Curacao February 2008
Curacao – February 2008
Superclub Breezes – just returning from a two week stay at the Superclub Breezes, these are some of the highlights:
Snorkelling – 5 star as usual. Perfect location for the beginner and children snorkeler. Plenty of fish to see close to shore. Venturing further out you can see the rare Flying Gurnard, squid, butterfly fish, to name just a few.
The Blue Mahoe Spa – has to be the BEST massage I have ever experienced! Try the hot rocks as this is definitely an incredible experience.
Weather – Feb. 10-24 – always a breeze blowing and a mix of mostly sun and fluffy white clouds. We did receive a sprinkle of rain once or twice throughout the two weeks, but the showers were short lived.
Shopping – worth the trip to town. Hop on the local bus at the bus stop just outside the hotel for the cost of $1.00. A great assortment of embroidered T-shirts, beach cover-ups, and beach bags are available along with plenty of all sorts of souvegnirs are available. Jewelry shopping – stop at Kings Jewelry and visit Raj – he will give you a great deal and is always willing to negotiate.
Mar
02
Two Week Deal to Roatan
$1799 for TWO weeks (plus taxes of only $193.00) at the four star All Inclusive Henry Morgan Resort located in Roatan only 20 mintues from the airport departing March 7, 2008!
Henry Morgan is a small resort with 116 rooms that have both in room safes and mini fridges. If you are looking for a good snorkeling holiday – this deal is for you!
Jan
15
A Little Advice
Purchasing a last minute trip or sell-off vacation can be a difficult, nail biting, and nerve wrecking experience. This site aims at releaving you from most of these sell-off generated tensions.
We offer knowledge, advice, and techniques that have been gathered over a period of more than 20 years. As with most sites this is a work in progress and will be frequently updated as more vacations are experienced, and we encourage input/feedback from readers in the Forum.
Please read the Helpful Advice Section for a “quick and profitable” intro and tips to buying last minute or sell-off vacations.