Tips for Traveling With a Significant Other

This week agency owner, Beth Duppstadt and Honeymoon Specialist Nancy Jackson talked with Sheila Gray at Good Morning Cincinnati and provided some tips for traveling with a significant other.

Watch the video here:

Channel 12 Interview

1. Start Small - If you are in a new relationship or traveling together for the first time, I recommend starting with an easy trip first, such as a long weekend.  Traveling with someone and being together 24/7 is a lot different than going on dates a few nights a week.

2. Discuss Priorities & Be Willing to Compromise  - Everyone has their own idea of what their perfect trip will be like. Discuss what you really want to experience during your trip and what you really don't like as well. Then, be willing to compromise in order to make sure both people are getting some of their top priorities met.

3. Be Clear About Budget and Spending Expectations - This is an important conversation to have. First, determining how much you'll spend on accommodations and transportation, but then also what you are comfortable spending once you are on the trip. Will you be splurging on gourmet meals every night, or eating at budget-friendly restaurants? 

This is why I like All-Inclusive Resorts for my honeymoon clients. Once they arrive they don't have to worry about spending or staying within a budget. It's all taken care of upfront which is a lot less stressful. 

4. Consider Privacy Needs - I recommend planning for some alone time during your trip. Maybe one of you will go to the spa for a few hours while the other plays golf. Having a little time to yourself can help you stay focused on the relationship for the rest of the trip. Also, make sure your accommodations are set up with enough privacy. Maybe you don't want a room with an open bathroom concept if you are in a new relationship.

5. After Trip Discussion - After you return home take a few minutes to talk about what you really enjoyed about your trip and anything that could have been better. It may help you in planning your next vacation.

Table for One - Part 2

Table for One  - Part 2


I guess it's really not fair to say that I would be alone in Mexico for the next seven days, I was meeting up with other travel agents during the middle of my trip. They were however, still strangers and this type of travel was still very new to me.

Since I was staying in the preferred club room at Now Sapphire, I was able to check in at the preferred club lounge. As I sat down to check in the bartender came over and offered to make me a drink. Even though it wasn't quite noon in Mexico, it was in Cincinnati, so I decided to go ahead and have a piña colada.

Check in was easy. I left my bags with the bellhop and decided to explore the resort. I walked around and took pictures for a little while, and I looked at all of the couples, friends, and families enjoying the beach and pools. Still, I didn't feel alone or lonely I was feeling a rush of excitement just being at the resort.

I decided it was time to have some lunch and found a casual beach side grille called Blue Water. I walked up to the hostess and said "table for one." 

I was seated outside at a table overlooking the ocean. There was a gentle breeze and clear sky that day.  The waiter took my order and brought out chips and guacamole. I was never a fan of guacamole before traveling to Mexico and now I will admit I'm a bit obsessed.

As I was sitting at the table waiting for my food I stared out into the ocean. All I could hear was the sound of the waves, and the seagulls flying around. Two blackbirds landed on the table next to me looking for leftover scraps. For a few minutes I watched them fighting over spilled tortilla chips and chasing each other around. I could feel the smile forming on my face. This was awesome. 

It's amazing the things that you notice and the things that you appreciate when you are left with only your thoughts for a while. A few minutes before my food came some of the other tables filled with families and couples. I observed them talking and laughing and sharing stories, but no one was staring out into the ocean, listening to the waves, or watching the birds.

After lunch I met with the sales manager for a tour of the property and checked into my room. I was delighted to find a special Champagne gift in my room, and giggled a little when I saw two champagne glasses for "Mr. and Mrs."

After changing into my swimsuit and cover-up, I walked down to the beach bar. On my way I ran into Steve and Mary from my flight. We chatted for a bit and it felt good to see familiar faces.

I really liked the beach bar. Instead of bar stools there were swings made from rope and wood. Being as short as I am I'm sure it looked somewhat comical to see me trying to get on to the swing. Once I was situated, however, it was so comfortable and relaxing I could've stayed there all night.

There were four guests sitting at the bar who I started a conversation with. There was a husband and wife, their adult daughter and friend. They insisted I do a shot with them, and even though I'm not a shot drinker I obliged. I sat there for a while chatting with them, and tried a couple more drinks they suggested. 

They told me they would be at the nightclub that evening and that I should stop by and party with them. I declined since I was getting up so early the next morning, but it was nice knowing how easily I was connecting with people.

Such a fun group!

They were right, this was delicious! 

That night I dressed up for dinner, and chose the Mediterranean restaurant, Cibu.  I did get a strange look when I told the hostess it was just me, but I didn't let it bother me. As I sat down at my table by the window I looked around the room and saw several couples having romantic dinners and a few groups as well. For a split second I felt lonely, but I brushed it off and decided that I was going to enjoy my dinner. I ordered wine, a bruschetta appetizer and a vegetarian lasagna. All of the food was incredible. I was so glad that I decided to go dine at this restaurant instead of choosing the casual beach grill or room service.

After dinner I was walking through the lobby bar and ran into the group from the beach bar. They introduced me to some of their other friends that they were traveling with. It was nice to have this sense of friendship when I was traveling alone. 

As much as I wanted to continue to socialize I knew I needed to get to sleep. The next morning I would be crossing an item off of my bucket list that I had been looking forward to for years. I would swim with whale sharks. 

The whale shark tour was incredible.  That alone was worth the trip to Mexico. When I returned to the resort I met with my driver who would take me to my next destination. 

Sandos Playacar is a large resort with an amazing beach, but I didn't get to explore it quite yet. I was already running late to meet with the other travel agents for dinner. We were to meet in the lobby area at 6:15 PM. I had no idea who I was looking for or if I was even in the right place. Finally, around 6:25 PM I saw a woman wearing a name badge that identified her as part of the group. We eventually found the others and headed to the Mexican restaurant at the resort. 

The best part about this group was that no one knew each other. I have been to several meetings and dinners before with other agents who all worked together or knew each other already and it was always a little awkward to be the one in the group that no one knows. That night, we were all in the same boat. 

After our group had dinner and attended the Madonna show we went our separate ways. I settled into my room and fell asleep quickly. 

The next morning I woke up early and decided to walk the beach. There's nothing like being one of the first people on the beach in the morning. It's the most peaceful and magical feelings. I took a few pictures of the sun rising and stared into the ocean for a few moments. This was another one of those moments when I was really glad to be alone.

One thing I really like about Sandos Playacar is the long stretch of beach.  I started walking away from the resort with nothing but beach and ocean in sight. I was fortunate enough to pass a morning jogger, who gladly took this photo for me.

On my way to breakfast I passed Jorge,  (a resident iguana that I named the night before), and a couple who I had met briefly while leaving the Madonna show. I had only been at the resort for 12 hours and already felt at home.

Jorge

Breakfast was easy to do solo, and I noticed there were quite a few people eating alone that morning. I got a seat by the window and felt a nice breeze while I enjoyed my coffee.

Amazing latte at Sandos Playacar

Resort Review - Sandos Cancun Luxury Experience

Sandos Cancun

From the moment I stepped into Sandos Cancun I knew there was something special about it. It had the perfect combination of luxury, style and service all in a boutique hotel. The small size allowed for the staff to fully engage with their guests and provide a level of service that went above and beyond. The hotel was charming and had a great spot on the beach.

Although the property is small the outdoor area had plenty going on. There are three pools, all kept at different temperatures with one serving as the activities pool. I saw several guests enjoying the water aerobics while several others were happy to relax in the pool side cabanas.

The beach is soft and sandy and the water is several shades of blue. The waves roll in gently and the beach is very swim-able. The seaweed has been a problem in the entire Cancun area this year and is somewhat unavoidable. Some resorts seem to do better at clearing it than others, and Sandos was great. Workers were out from very early in the morning all through the day cleaning up the beach and keeping it looking great for us.

Dining
The food was some of the best I've had in Cancun. The resort offers a Teppanyaki restaurant with talented cooks and amazing flavors. It's small, intimate and perfect for group of friends or romantic date. My favorite place, however, was Seasons. This Molecular Cuisine was incredible. I'm still dreaming of the Corn Cappuccino soup. Zango, the main dining room had a fantastic buffet for breakfast,  lunch and dinner. The desserts alone were worth multiple visits! St. Trop was a cute outdoor restaurant with a pizza oven and view of the pools and beach.  The margarita pizza was amazing!

Bars & Nightlife
The main bar, Bar One was a modern, upscale piano bar by day and more of a night club by night. I stopped in during Karaoke night which drew in a small crowd but had much left to be desired. I would have liked to have had a bigger selection of songs to choose from and some more enthusiasm from the host. They also offered live music here different nights of the week. It's not a "party hotel" for sure though, so be prepared for more of a mellow evening. The good news is that this is Cancun. Nightlife is all around this area so  party animals can take a quick cab ride into town and find dance clubs nearby.

Accommodations
The rooms here are upscale and spacious. I had a room facing the pools and beach which was nice. The other side of the hotel offers rooms with a Lagoon view. This is great if you want to see some beautiful sunsets. The rooms all offered room service, and I found that they were prompt and the food was fresh and tasty! The bed was comfortable, water pressure and temperature was fine and overall the hotel was quiet at night. My TV wasn't working the first night I tried to use it and a maintenance person came within 5 minutes of my call and fixed it right away.

Spa
I was able to sample some spa treatments when I was there and I was very impressed. The massage I got was great, as was the sauna, steam room and water therapy rooms. It's a little pricey but worth it if you want to truly relax and be pampered.

Weddings
I didn't see a wedding while I was there but I did see the beautiful space they offer for weddings and receptions. They really cater to brides and grooms and I will be recommending this location to my destination wedding clients.

This is a great resort if you want upscale accommodations, fantastic service and incredible food. I do think that if I had been here for a full seven  nights I would have gotten a bit bored and would find the need to venture off the property. The great thing is that you have exchange privileges with the sister properties Sandos Caracol and Sandos Playacar, so check those out if you have a longer stay!

If you want a luxury experience with top-notch service, gourmet food and a boutique style hotel then Sandos Cancun Luxury experience is for you!

For booking details visit www.LoveLandandSea.com 

Resort Review - Sandos Caracol Eco Resort

Sandos Caracol, in Playacar, Mexico is a wonderfully unique place. A few weeks ago I was able to stay there and take a tour of this beautiful all-inclusive eco resort. I instantly fell in love.

This is such a multi-dimensional place and each aspect comes together in perfect harmony. The best way to explain what they offer is just breaking it down.

Accommodations

Sandos Caracol offers a Family Section, Adults-Only Select Club and The Royal Elite Section. I stayed in the Select Club and was very happy. My room  was located near the main lobby and also close to the Select Club pool and reception area. The Select Club has a private restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and became one of my favorite spots (more on that later).

The Royal Elite rooms offer a close proximity to the beach and pool, as well as VIP service and a private restaurant.

Family Suites are sprinkled in the middle section so again, be prepared to walk a little bit to reach the beach and main pool. There are golf cart shuttles that come around and will take you across the resort if needed, so it's not a big deal to be further back on the property. Plus, the grounds are so beautiful the walk is enjoyable!

Pools & Beach 

The adults-only pool was quiet, calm and relaxing. Very nice for couples on a honeymoon. The only downside is that these rooms are a little walk from the beach area and the main entertainment plaza.

The main pool was located near the beach and that's where you will find the activities, water sports and nearby dining options.

The beach has gentle waves, not as much seaweed as several other resorts in the area this time of year and is only rocky on one side. If you walk the beach you will find the perfect spot to walk in!

There is an adults only section and Royal Elite section on the beach too, which offers some exclusivity.

Dining 

There were plenty of places to eat at Sandos Caracol. From an international buffet, to Italian and Mexican buffets there were plenty of choices. In addition, the A La Carte options were amazing. My favorite was the vegetarian restaurant, called Salvia. They have recently been discussing more vegan options there too which is very exciting!

Other dining options were with Teppanyaki, Brazilian, Mediterranean, Italian and a Steak & Fish place. I didn't have anything bad to eat the whole time. I will also mention that in the past I have been to all-inclusive resorts where the desserts look beautiful but have no taste.. not true here. They were all amazing. I think it may have to do with everything being made on site.

There is also a snack place open 24 hours so there is always something to eat. I didn't try the food there (except one evening when I grabbed a quick ice cream cone)!

 The bars were all great. They have a list of drinks they can make for you as resort specialties, but they are skilled bartenders and will make any other drink you request as well. I was very impressed with the bar service and quality of the drinks.

Activities/Entertainment

This is where Sandos Caracol really excels. Sure, there are plenty of resorts in the Riviera Maya. They all offer entertainment, water sports, land sports, etc. What you get at Sandos Caracol is that - plus MUCH more. They are called an Eco Resort for a reason.

Wildlife

Walking around you can spot several types of birds, turtles, coatis, iguanas all over, racoons and spider monkeys. The best part of my trip was when I was eating breakfast at the Select Club and four spider monkeys came down from the trees to grab bananas. They were hanging around eating their breakfast while everyone took pictures. They had no fear of us, but kept their distance too. It was such an amazing experience to be so close to nature.

I was very impressed that the resort respects nature and wildlife and leaves the animals alone in their natural habitat.

Nature

This place was built around the jungle. They didn't knock everything down to make room for the resort. Instead, they built around cenotes, trees, Mayan ruins and lagoons.

Our guide showed us different trees and explained the stories that the Mayas told about them. He also showed us the ruins that are on site and did a sensory experience with our group that was really cool.

What makes this place so unique is that you can explore the jungle (on foot or on provided bikes), swim in a cenote, view wildlife, get immersed in Mayan history and culture, yet still have all of the comforts and benefits of an all-inclusive beach resort at the same time.

Culture

The resort has entertainment every night and a huge focus is the Mayan culture. You can watch fire shows and ceremonies and participate in a survival game too. It's great for the whole family. For something romantic, couples can take a private boat ride in the Jade river.

Kids

For kids, there is a nice water park with slides and pools as well as a kids program with a full schedule each day to keep kids busy and happy the whole trip.

I'm already planning my next trip back. I will be recommending Sandos Caracol to my clients for sure! For more photos visit facebook.com/LoveLandandSea

For booking info contact beth@lovelandandsea.com

Resort Review: Now Sapphire - Puerto Morelos Mexico

Now Sapphire

I recently returned from a week in Mexico and had the opportunity to stay at and tour several resorts. The first resort I stayed at was Now Sapphire in Puerto Morelos, near Cancun. I took an AmStar Transfer from the airport, a company that I recommend and arrived at the resort around 11:00 A.M.

As a "Preferred Club" guest I was able to leave my luggage with the bell man,  bi-pass the front desk in the lobby and head over to the Preferred Club Lounge for a private check-in.

Inside the air-conditioned lounge there were a few desks, couches and chairs, several snacks and cookies and a business center with computers for personal use. I sat down at the desk to begin the check in process. A moment later the lounge bartender came over and asked if he could get me a drink. Despite the fact it was eleven in the morning I requested a Pina Colada. He returned quickly and the drink was amazing.

Now Sapphire Preferred Club Lounge

Check in was very easy. Since I'm a travel agent and had a full property tour arranged with management later that afternoon we skipped the resort introduction. I did overhear another couple and a resort representative discussing details. He was explaining the dining options, how reservations were not needed, where to find entertainment, bars, etc.

My room was not quite ready so I headed over to the Blue Water Grill for lunch. The outdoor seating gave a perfect view of the ocean and had a lovely breeze. The blackbirds would occasional come down to steal leftover food or wait on the umbrellas for someone to drop a tortilla chip. To some they may be considered a nuisance, to me they were fun to watch and just part of being outside.

The garden salad was fresh and beautiful, but I didn't care for the dressing. The cheese quesadillas I ordered were very good, as was the salsa and guacamole.

Blue Water Grill

Garden Salad at Blue Water Grill

I continued my day by meeting with the sales director and taking a tour of resort facilities. The main lobby is large and surrounded with fountains and clear water. There are some decks that go across and act as bridges to get from one area to the next. Here is where you find a path to the restaurants, lobby bar, beach and pools.

Main Pool

The pool was very large, and even though the resort was at full capacity it did not seem overcrowded. The vibe was lively with music and pool activities going on.

The resort offers fantastic meeting spaces and would be ideal for corporate incentives, workshops and events.

The kid's program had a full schedule, broken down by the hour so children always had something to do and parents could relax at the beach or at the pool.

The beach was a bit disappointing. The entire area of Cancun has had a bad year with sea grass. This particular stretch had quite a bit. The resort staff was working hard on it around the clock, starting early in the morning. The water was not as clear and blue as I would have hoped for.

I had dinner at Cibu, and my vegetarian lasagna was amazing. I also enjoyed the bruschetta appetizer and salad bar.

Overall, I think that Now Sapphire offers a great value. The rooms are nice and very clean. The staff was all very helpful and food was great. If your main focus is a great beach, this resort is not for you. If you tend to spend more time at the pool then it's a great option! I do recommend the Preferred Club option. It just adds so much to the experience. For booking information, please contact beth@lovelandandsea.com  or www.LoveLandandSea.com

Preferred Club Garden View Room

Sunset

Garden View 

Hidden Fees at All-inclusive Resorts

This morning's segment on Fox 19: Video

Fox 19 Morning News – Wednesday March 24^th 2015

All-Inclusive Resorts – Hidden Fees

Not all  All-Inclusives are the same.  While some all-inclusive resorts cover just about everything, others will have you spending more money than you may have anticipated.

1.       Airport Transfers.

Many resorts do not include these. You could end up spending about $20-$100 per person for roundtrip airport transfers, depending on how far your resort is from the airport.

2.       Gratuities.

Some resorts have a “no-tipping” policy, and gratuities are included in the room cost. At others, you will be expected to tip your room attendant, bartender and servers.

3.       Dining Upcharges.

While food is typically included at all-inclusive resorts, some allow only a certain amount of dinners at the specialty restaurants and the rest have to be at the buffet. Also, some charge an additional fee for Lobster or the nicer restaurants.

4.       Drink Upcharges. 

Some resorts include top-shelf liquor and all mixed drinks, while others provide standard drinks and charge extra for the premium brands.

5.       Activities & Spa Services

A lot of all-inclusive resorts include activities onsite at no additional charge such as land sports, snorkeling, and kayak rental. Some include more than others, and many charge for any type of motorized water sports. Off-Site excursions are typically not included and spa services are not included at all-inclusive resorts.