Sunday, August 31, 2014

Review - Couples Negril, Jamaica

I recently visited Jamaica for some resort tours and a 6 night stay at Couples Negril. I send many honeymoon clients to Couples Resorts and have always loved the feedback I get. I wanted to try out Couples Negril for myself, so in June my boyfriend and I took a charter flight and headed down.

First of all, if you are considering doing the VIP Airport Service at Montego Bay Airport - do it. It's completely worth it to be able to arrive and skip the lines at customs. I always recommend this for my honeymoon clients.

As far as the resort... what I love about this property is that it is small, with an intimate boutique feel, yet there is plenty to do. The beach is wide and kept very clean and the sand is soft and white. Exactly what I wanted.

The water is calm in this area with easy swimming/floating around. It's a great location for just hanging out on the beach or on the water all day.

The rooms are nice, but not what I would call fancy. I liked that. They felt more authentic and less Americanized, but still had all of the comforts of home and were kept very clean. My room was a Garden View and it was a real garden view, meaning I was looking out at lush landscaping and palm trees. There were birds in nests that woke me each morning which was very nice.

The resort had wonderful food. I spoke with many guests during my stay and everyone had great things to say about the restaurants. Lychee had some of the best tofu dishes I've had and I heard wonderful things about the shrimp and chicken dishes as well.

The best restaurant is Otaheite. This is the one that requires reservations and has a dress code. Make your reservation as soon as you arrive to the resort to make sure you get to dine here.

The Cassava Terrace has breakfast, lunch and dinner. I was very impressed with this. You don't always know what you will get with a buffet, but this is top notch. Everything was fresh with a ton of flavor and tons of options. As a vegetarian it was great having things labeled clearly too.

The service is what really sets this place apart. The staff are wonderfully polite, caring and genuine. Also, the option for the off-property tours makes this place a gem in the all-inclusive world.

I will keep recommending my clients go here and I will be back for sure as well. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. I have tons of information to share!
  • Stayed June 2014

Saturday, August 30, 2014

One-Tank Honeymoon Destinations from Cincinnati


Video Link: http://www.fox19.com/story/25555937/planning-a-honeymoon-here-are-one-tank-destinations

Planning a honeymoon? Here are one-tank destinations

Posted: May 19, 2014 3:18 PM EDTUpdated: May 20, 2014 6:20 AM EDT

Chicago is a about four hours and 30 minutes from Cincinnati. File photoChicago is a about four hours and 30 minutes from Cincinnati. File photo
(FOX19) -
Looking for a honeymoon destination close to home? 

Indianapolis 
Driving distance from Cincinnati: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Where to stay: The Alexander is in the heart of downtown and offers a romantic and unique hotel experience.
What to do: Indy has six cultural districts from eclectic and trendy, jazzy and historic to artsy and vintage. There are plenty of places to explore, shop and dine as well as many museums and breweries.
Worth Mentioning: The Canal & White River State Park offers authentic Gondola Rides
More information: http://visitindy.com/

Louisville, Ky. 
Driving distance from Cincinnati: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Where to stay: The Brown Hotel is a historic, AAA Four Diamond luxury hotel near many Louisville attractions.
What to do: West Main Street in Downtown is home to seven museums all in a six-block historic neighborhood. "Restaurant Row" on Bardstown offers an incredible variety of culinary options, many with alfresco dining. Plan a Bourbon Trail tour or visit during one of the many festivals.
Worth mentioning: For couples who like to hike, check out Iroquois Park. From the top of the hill you can see the entire city of Louisville.
More information: http://www.gotolouisville.com/

ChicagoDriving distance from Cincinnati: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Where to stay: The Talbott Hotel is ranked the No. 1 most romantic hotel in Chicago according to TripAdvisor.
What to do: Visit the tallest building in North America and step out onto the Ledge, a suspended glass box at the Skydeck Chicago observatory. Chicago is home to 77 community areas containing more than 100 neighborhoods, each brimming with their own unique cultures and histories. Travel the world without leaving Chicago on a neighborhood tour.
Worth mentioning: Chicago is one of only three U.S. cities to have its own Michelin Guide. Dine around town at critically-acclaimed restaurants using their prestigious ratings as your guide
More information: http://www.choosechicago.com/

Nashville, Tenn. Driving distance from Cincinnati: 4 hours, 30 Minutes
Where to stay: The Hermitage Hotel in Downtown Nashville offer southern hospitality and 5 star luxury.
What to do: Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. In Nashville's Centennial Park The Parthenon houses an art gallery and museum. Condé Nast Traveler stated this about Music City: "There's enough going on food-wise to warrant a trip solely for eating."
Worth mentioning: A free Nashville Live Music Guide app is available for both iPhone and Android devices, locates live music venues throughout the city and tells you who's on stage.
More information: http://www.visitmusiccity.com/


Traveling With Kids

This is from a couple months ago, but something I still wanted to share since many people travel with kids throughout the year, and not just during the summer months.  I did an interview on the Fox 19 Morning News about Traveling with Children and how to make the trip a little easier on everyone. 

Summer Travel Tips for Families

Best Destinations for Families
-      Florida (Disney World, Universal Studios, Destin, Fort Lauderdale)
-      Caribbean & Mexico  (All-inclusive resorts are great for your budget and for providing activities for both kids and adults)
-      Mammoth Cave, Gatlinburg, Indianapolis to stay near home (Cincinnati). 

Best Accommodations for Families
-       Many All-Inclusive Resorts are now offering family packages where you can have essential items in the room before you arrive such as a stroller, crib, highchair, step stools and toys. Many do this at no additional charge. Make sure you ask your travel agent about these programs.

-      For large or multi-generational families traveling together your best bet is often a villa, condo, cabin or rental house. You can all stay together but have enough space too. An added benefit is having a kitchen where you can save money on dining out and be prepared with snacks around the clock.

Tips for Family Road Trips
-      Purchase some new books/games/toys that are only for the car. Get out only one or 2 of them at a time so when the kids get bored there are new items to play with
-      Pack wet-wipes, garbage or plastic bags and paper towels for clean ups.
-      Stop every 2 or 3 hours for a bathroom break, snack and short activity like Frisbee or catch.




Tips for Flying with Kids
-      For babies - plan a feeding during take-off/landing. The swallowing motion can help reduce problems with ears popping. Older kids can chew gum during take- off and landing.

-      Purchase some new books/games/toys that are only for the flight. Get out only one or 2 of them at a time so when the kids get bored there are new items to play with.
-      Pack a couple snacks in your carry-on. You never know when the flight could be delayed on the tarmac.

-      For diapers, wipes, etc. Pack a little more than you think you will need for traveling and purchase the rest when you arrive to your destination. You can also ship a box of supplies to your hotel to have it there when you arrive.

Airport Security Tips:
-Get there early, especially for international flights. Check with your travel agent or on your carrier’s website for suggested arrival times. You can take advantage of the children’s play area, restaurants and shopping once you have check in and gone through security.
- If you are traveling with kids use the family lane where you can all stay together for the security process.
-Wear slip on shoes, and skip the belt on your travel day. 

Hidden Hotel Fees

This week I did a segment on the Morning Extra on Fox 19. We were discussing Hidden Hotel Fees. It's always important to know your total cost when booking a hotel. When you have a good travel agent booking for you, you will know these additional costs and not have to worry about surprises. When you book online, however, you need to know about several ways you could get nickeled and dimed . Below are my tips and a video from the news interview.

Click for Video: Interview 8/29/2014

Hotel Hidden Fees

1.      Resort Fees- These are especially popular in places like Las Vegas, Miami and Orlando. These fees are typically not in the published price, and not paid at the time of booking. You pay these directly to the resort upon check-in. They can  cover things like gym, pool and sauna access, daily newspaper, Wi-Fi and boarding pass printing.
The cost is typically between $10 per night and $25 – plus tax.
If you are booking something online make sure you find out the total daily resort fee and add that into the price. You may think you are getting a great deal but the resort fee could be adding $175 to your weeklong vacation.

2.      Internet/Wi-Fi Access – This is starting to change for the better lately, with more hotels offering free Wi-Fi, however, many hotels do still charge for it and some that do offer it for free have limits to how many devices you can have. 

These fees can cost up to $19.95 per day, so keep that in mind when booking your hotel. Sometimes you can get this fee waived if you sign up for the hotel’s loyalty program or find special promotions. You can also look  for nearby cafés to visit who offer the service for free.


3.      Misc Charges – You can be nickeled and dimed for just about anything. Charges for your in-room safe, parking, luggage storage, mini-bar restocking fees, (in addition to charges for anything actually taken from the mini bar), late check-out fees, rollaway bed fees and local phone usage charges.

What can you do?
Don’t assume that you are comparing hotel prices side by side on booking websites. You have to take in to consideration the overall costs to really get the best rate.
-          Call the hotel directly to ask about any additional charges
-          Join their loyalty program to have certain charges waived
-          Check out consumer reviews before booking to see if there are complaints about charges

-          Book with a travel agent who will do the necessary research for you. 

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Welcome to my Blog!

Welcome to my new travel blog! 

Over the next several months I will be adding reviews, the best travel deals and providing weekly travel tips. Please feel free to comment with suggestions on what you would like to see on this blog. 

Have a travel question? Submit it to my email and I will answer it in an upcoming blog post! beth@lovelandandsea.com 

www.lovelandandsea.com