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It’s not on a bay & you won’t find Pamela Anderson here.  What you will find is a beautiful ocean view along a wide stretch of beach to relax and unwind. Bay Watch Resort is a property managed by Oceana Resorts which has recently been acquired by Wyndham Worldwide and undergoing much needed updated decor.

I was privé to an exclusive peek at the new designs available to the homeowners 2 weeks ago by V4 Designs.  Four concept boards were displayed with different themes that could be mixed and matched.

Contemporary living room furniture complimented the bedding decor.  The sofabed featured a very comfortable mattress that puts the old dreaded thought of having to take the couch to sleep.  No bar in your back with these.

New and repeat guests will be pleased to see the bedding.  It’ll take some time to completely renovate all of them so if you book one that has an undesirable mattress, please keep that in mind.

This resort has so much to offer with enormous banquet and conference space with ocean views.  It’s perfect for conventions, weddings and events.  Very few resorts in the North Myrtle Beach area have what Bay Watch has and I am so happy to see they are on their way to bigger success.  Kudos to the staff who have been hanging in there and doing such a tremendous job all these years.

– Jodi

Press Release from AMResorts

PHILADELPHIA, PA – June 21, 2012 – AMResorts, provider of sales, marketing and brand management services for Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts, and Secrets, Dreams, Now and Sunscape Resorts & Spas, will introduce its second Secrets resort in Los Cabos with the opening of adults-only Secrets Puerto Los Cabos in November 2013. The new build resort will join three other AMResorts properties in the destination.

Located in the exclusive Puerto Los Cabos area, where the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains meet the ocean, and only 15 minutes from San Jose del Cabo, Secrets Puerto Los Cabos will have 500 spacious suites, all with stunning views and a Jacuzzi for two on their private balconies or terraces. Added amenities will be available in the 150 Preferred Club level designated suites, including a private lounge, complimentary in-room internet access, pillow menu, upgraded mini bar service, and more.

Guests of Secrets Puerto Los Cabos will enjoy the benefits of Secrets Resorts & Spas’ signature Unlimited-Luxury® vacation concept which offers limitless access to gourmet a la carte dining and premium beverage brands, 24-hour room and concierge services, countless daytime activities, live evening entertainment, and more. The resort features two main swimming pools, five á la carte gourmet restaurants, a buffet venue, a café, a grill, and six bars offering a variety of experiences.

The resort’s 12,000 square-foot signature Secrets Spa by Pevonia will offer 22 treatment rooms, a selection of specialty treatments and hydrotherapy circuit, and the perfect atmosphere for those seeking relaxation. A fitness center facility and full service beauty salon also are available.

Additionally, Secrets Puerto Los Cabos will have more than 16,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space for memorable group functions, from creative theme parties and team building activities to casually elegant gala dinners. The resort also caters to the destination wedding and honeymoon market with signature beachside ceremony and reception locations, dedicated group event planners offering personalized attention, and romantic environments throughout the property. A host of honeymoon and anniversary packages also are available.

via AMResorts Notification.

While away at a travel conference hosted by one of my preferred suppliers, GOGO Worldwide Vacations, a minor issue arose with a traveling client.  Fortunately I had booked them through GOGO.  I left the seminar that I was in and talked with a GOGO rep on site who immediately sent an email to another rep.  He then came to find me (approximately 20 minutes later) before the next seminar started to assure me the issue was resolved.  My next seminar was about how GOGO is always there to assist your clients if you’re not available and to assist us in any situation.  Well, they couldn’t have been more right, I literally had them in the palm of my hand that morning.

Tradeshow time!!  I email and chat by phone with so many travel suppliers around the world, some on a regular basis and to finally get to meet them face to face is so rewarding, even if we haven’t been in touch for a long period of time.  It just makes the relationship much more personable.  I had the pleasure of meeting with the sales manager from a luxury resort in  Turks and Caicos and mentioned that I had suggested their resort to a new client recently.  He was happy to hear that, we talked for a short period, exchanged cards and he offered to personally assist me in any exclusive amenities for future clients.

I was so thrilled when I left the conference yesterday after gaining more knowledge, building better and more supplier relationships, it makes me love my job even more.  Not a single OTA (online travel agency) is going to have those types of connections or be able to provide that extra special service.  I can’t wait to plan a future Turks and Caicos trip for someone!

—Jodi

It’s very common for couples to live together before marriage these days & accumulate all of the basic necessities of domestic life.  Kitchen appliances, bath sets, dishes, glassware, the list goes on.  We’re also getting married later in age now where a lot of those things we’ve already gotten as gifts (and lets face it, we’ve all gotten one of those items that didn’t quite suit our taste at one time or another) or bought for ourselves.  A honeymoon registry is an excellent alternative the to the typical bridal registry. 

Instead of registering for the usual pots & pans, couples register activities/excursions, room upgrades, private dinners on the beach & anything they possibly could dream of to enhance their honeymoon.  Do you want to swim with the dolphins?  Friends or family can give that to you as a GIFT…a memorable gift.  Does the butler suite not fit in your budget, do you want a couples massage ocean-side?  Register it.

In the end, it comes to you in cash but you do receive a card from the person who bought it for you.  Everyone has a little bit of difficulty finding the perfect gift & if that someone wants to contribute in making your new lives together extraordinarily special, this is the way to do it.

Access Starfish Travel’s honeymoon registry HERE.  Need honeymoon planning?  Contact us.

Carnival Cruise Lines has removed the suggested gratuities envelope for the dining room Maitre D’ from all cabins effective December 1, 2011, except for Carnival Paradise, which begins on December 12, 2011.  Even though it’s no longer expected, if the Maitre D’ (or any staff member) has given you extra special service, we suggest tipping them personally.

According to the line’s cruise director, John Heald: “They will not be part of the new $11.50 gratuity at all and there will be no announcements or videos that mention you should tip your Maitre D’.”  He also stated that the Maitre D’ crew members are happy so it appears that they’re being compensated by Carnival.

The $11.50 daily/per person gratuity is a minimum required amount.  All cruise lines encourage leaving more for any crew member who gave you outstanding service.  Happy sailing!

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora is offering two new packages—the Romance Package and the Stay Longer – Fourth Night Free package—that are good from now to the end of 2012.

The Romance Package, valid from September 19, 2011 to December 24, 2012, is ideal for couples. Based on a five-night minimum stay, guests receive daily breakfast buffet in the Tere Nui restaurant, a dinner in the Arii Moanarestaurant, a couple’s Polynesian Massage treatment in the Spa, a romantic bath amenity, Champagne or wine and a Polynesian gift upon departure. This package is available on select overwater bungalows and beachfront villas.

The Stay Longer – Fourth Night Free package is also valid from September 19, 2011 to December 24, 2012 and offers a complimentary fourth night to guests staying three consecutive paid nights. The package also includes daily breakfast buffet in Tere Nui restaurant, and it is available on select overwater bungalows and beachfront villas.

The Resort’s accommodations include 100 overwater bungalows and seven beachfront villas, all designed with traditional thatched roofs and decorated with indigenous artwork. Dining options at the Resort range from Polynesian to French and South Pacific fusion. Families can also enjoy an array of activities, in addition to full-day complimentary programming at Kids For All Seasons (ages 5 – 12) and Chill Island for teenagers.

Our clients also receive a variety of exclusive benefits when booking with us, a Four Seasons Preferred Partner through our affiliation with Leaders in Travel, a member of the Tzell Travel Group.

Source: Travel Agent Central

To commemorate the historic New York marriage equality law, the Millennium Broadway Hotel is kicking off their “Wedding with PRIDE Package.” This deal is available for weddings as early as July 26- the official date that same sex couples can legally wed in New York.

This package puts a truly New York City spin on the wedding by setting the wedding in the historic Hudson Theater, a 1903 Art Deco landmark decorated with priceless Tiffany mosaics. This theater, where budding stars like Barbara Streisand and Louis Armstrong made their debut, is a perfect location for a memorable wedding.

The hotel has an experienced wedding event planning department, including florists, photographers, bands, DJs, sound and light specialists, and more. This team has vowed to help couples organize their wedding within just two weeks for weddings scheduled July 26 through Labor Day.

Starting at $195 per person for a reception of 100 persons or more, this package includes:

5-hour premium open bar
Champagne toast
Wine service with dinner
1 hour reception with hot / cold butler-passed hors d’oeuvre and two hot stationary stations
3-course dinner
Wedding cake
Matrimonial accommodations in a suite or premier room on your wedding night based on availability

The hotel also encourages newly wed LGBT couples to take advantage of the 15 percent PRIDE discount for accommodations before and after the wedding.

Source: Travel Agent Central

Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the summer season to most of us.  Let’s not forget what the federal holiday is really about, commemorating those who died during their military service in all wars.

Please take a moment on Monday or any time over the weekend to thank the men and women who lost their lives fighting for our country.

Have a safe and wonderful weekend!

Jodi

If you haven’t booked your summer vacation yet, now is the time to do it.  A lot of resorts are adding some great activities; Shakira is performing at Moon Palace in Cancun, Atlantis in the Bahamas has creative culinary classes for kids, mega cruise ships have more than you can see or do in just one cruise.

Don’t wait for the ‘last minute deals’.  With soaring fuel costs, there’s no guarantee that air fares, cruise fares and the pump prices will still be within your travel budget when you decide to make plans and book.

When it comes to the hotels and resorts, the lesser expensive rooms always book first so if you are on a tight budget, it’s best to secure those as early as possible.  Most of the time, at a non-refundable rate, hotels and resorts  have ‘early booking bonuses’ which will give you extra amenities.  It’s best to take advantage of that opportunity.

There isn’t any way to avoid the possibility of fuel surcharges with the cruise lines.  They all have a disclaimer that they can reinstate it at any time with rising fuel costs.  Aside from that, booking early is highly advised for the same reason as with hotels and resorts…the lower cost cabins sell out quickly as well as the cabins located mid-ship where most experienced cruisers prefer to be.

Planning a trip to Disney?  If you’re utilizing their dining plans, you’ll want to make your dining reservations as early as possible, especially if it’s for one of the character meals such as Chef Mickey’s Buffet or Cinderella’s Royal Table.

The best deals aren’t always the last minute ones, whether it’s a cruise, honeymoon, weekend jaunt or week-long family vacation.  If you’re thinking about traveling anywhere, book it now.

Atlantis is more than just an awesome water park where you can swim with dolphins.  No other resort in the Bahamas can boast that it has 9 fine dining restaurants, 11 casual venues, and 8 cafes.   You can enjoy a variety of exquisite cuisines from celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay, Nobu Matsuhisa, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

Recently aired was the 4-part finale of Bravo’s ‘Top Chef All Stars’ that was shot on location at Atlantis.  These episodes included the largest panel of finale guest judges ever with Wolfgang Puck, Curtis Stone, Morimoto, Michelle Bernstein, Hubert Keller, Alfred Portali, Eric Ripert, Art Smith, Lorena Garcia and one of my favorites, Lidia Bastianich.  I hope they’ll have more celebrity chef guests in the future as the culinary vacation trend grows.

Atlantis has always had a great variety of fun activities for kids of all ages;  Wizardology, Lego Construction, game & performance rooms to name a few.  Adding to that menu is the new culinary adventure program ‘Cooks@Play’ for kids aged 6-12 with 2 or 3 hour hands-on cooking experiences creating everything from decadent desserts or painted pizza masterpieces.  If your child loves to help you out in the kitchen, this program is ideal for them.  Make sure you get a picture of them in their chef’s hat.

Atlantis has some amazing new dining plans starting from $50 a day and for a limited time, kids 11 and under can eat & stay free when you purchase one of them.