Skip,

We did have a great trip. The resort was very well maintained – the rooms, grounds, restaurants and beach.  We found it to be quite relaxing and, as I’m sure you experienced, quiet.  All the guests were so calm and de-stressed, very few times could you really hear anyone else.  Great atmosphere for total relaxation.

The staff was very friendly.  Many of the key staff (restaurant hosts, wait staff, beach butler) knew us by mid week and (in the case of the beach butler, Diego) knew pretty much what our order would be.  We found the service to be overall very outstanding.

Our room was prefect for us.  We spent a good amount of time on the balcony of the room, which we really enjoyed.  If given the choice between that room and the infinity pool room, we’d probably take this room – if nothing else because it had better views of the water (above the palm trees).

The food was as good as we hoped it would be.  Each morning, almost, we had an omelet prepared for us at the omelet station.  Plus, the daily food specials at the beach front restaurant for lunch were always especially good.  The dinners were very nice as well.

Our week was exactly what hoped for.  Very restful, relaxing and an opportunity to recharge after the holidays and before the year really gets going full steam (which it already has and we’ve not even been back a week…).

We thank you very much for setting us up with this resort and the discount for the Honeymoon Suite.  We cannot say enough great things about the trip and have been telling our friends about the resort and encouraging them to reach out to you to help plan it!

We do have a few pics that we can send once we get them off the phone and on the computer.

Please let us know if you have any specific questions.  Thanks, again, for all the help!  We’re already looking forward to our next one!  Talk soon.

Carter & Kristen

Holiday Special for “Guru” clients only!!!!

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Jacuzzi Jr Suite to
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This latest trip was to Occidental Grand in Costa Rica.  It is a great 4 star, all-inclusive resort in the Guanacaste area.  Lots of great room category choices, good food, beautiful views and the customized rates I do are great.   If interested in experiencing something similar, let me know and I’ll be happy to customize a great Costa Rica trip for you as well.

Thank you again Trevor and Allison for the kind words below and for sharing your pictures with me.  Looking forward to your next trip…

Hey Skip! We absolutely loved Costa Rica It definitely was not a relax on the beach type trip, but more of an adventure! We loved the Occidental Grand Papagayo because it was the perfect combination of the relaxing vacation we wanted before Trevor deployed AND adventure. Our favorite tour was def zip lining through the rainforest…what a rush to be 700 feet above ground going 50 mph through a REAL rainforest! We also LOVED our room, it was like a private villa right on the bay! We couldn’t have asked for a better anniversary/pre-deployment trip! Thanks Skip, we’ll be traveling with you next year!

Trevor and Allison Finnell

The honeymoon guru gets questions all the time about what type of credit card couples should take on a trip or if they apply for one, which one is the best to get before booking a trip to get the most “bang” “perks” etc.  So when I saw this article today in Budget Travel.com, I thought I would share it, as it covers the top 5 credit cards they suggest every traveler should carry.  I think the choices are great..

1.  Citi Gold/AAdvantage Visa Signature Card

Best for: Domestic travelers who often fly to the same destination

So you visit your grandmother twice a year in Cincinnati and fly home to Santa Barbara on all major holidays? This Visa card features a ‘Reduced Mileage Awards’ program that allows cardholders to fly to select AA destinations for 7,500 fewer miles] on a round-trip ticket. If you spend just $750 on the card in the first four months, American Airlines will award you 20,000 bonus miles. You’ll earn one AAdvantage mile for every dollar spent, and there are no blackout dates for travel. Annual fee after first year – $50

2.  Chase Sapphire Preferred
Best for: Globetrotters

Let’s say it together now: no foreign transaction fees. That means you won’t be charged extra for using your card anywhere overseas, a crucial benefit for international travelers. The Chase Sapphire Preferred also lets you turn your points into miles with a 1:1 exchange into Continental/United Airlines and British Airways. The introductory offer is tempting: spend $3,000 in the first three months and you’ll earn 50,000 miles. Annual fee after first year – $95

3.  Starwood Preferred Guest/American Express
Best for: Hotel connoisseurs and travelers to Latin America

Always wanted to stay at the W Barcelona or the St. Regis New York? Starpoints earned on this card can be redeemed at over 1,000 hotels in nearly 100 countries. The first time you use your card, you’ll earn 10,000 Starpoints, enough for a free night at a 4-star property You can also transfer your Starpoints on a 1:1 basis into more than 30 frequent flier programs. Travelers to Central and South America win especially big with this card – Starpoints are instantly doubled if you transfer them into LAN’s frequent flier program. Annual fee after first year – $65

4.  American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card
Best for: Big spenders

Do you put more than $2,000 a month on your credit card? This program will triple your points when you buy a plane ticket and double your points when you spend on gas and groceries. Because the annual fee is on the steep side, this card is a much better deal if you rack up a lot of charges on your card each month. Your earned points never expire; use them on any airline, anytime, by reserving a flight through American Express Travel, or transfer them into your preferred frequent flyer program. Annual fee after first year – $175

5.  Continental Airlines OnePass Plus Chase MasterCard
Best for: Continental/United frequent flyers

The Continental/United frequent flyer program is widely considered one of the easiest to use-it often charges fewer miles to qualify for a free ticket than other programs do and there are fewer blackout dates. The OnePass Plus offers cardholders a free checked bag on any flight in the system (Continental charges $25 for the first checked bag), flexibility to change your reward travel dates for free up to 21 days in advance of travel, and a 25,000-mile bonus when you make your first purchase. Annual fee after first year – $95

The only hiccup we had was a small problem with the airline, which had cancelled some of its summer flights out of Austin. We ended up taking a flight out of San Antonio (about an hour away), but Skip reimbursed us for our week long parking and even offered us a hotel (which we declined). This situation with the airline was not Skip’s fault, and he went out of his way to try to make sure we were happy. We understand that sometimes unfortunate situations happen, and knowing that you have someone working for you on your side definitely calms the mind!!!

Thanks so much Skip for everything! David and I look forward to working with you in the future for all of our travel needs!

Thank you so much Summer for the kind words and the great pictures you shared.  I’m so glad that overall you guys had a great vacation.  Thanks for being great clients.

Continued happy travels.

Dear Skip~

   Thank you so much for your help in planning our summer 2011 get away to the Turks and Caicos islands! We had such a good time, and thoroughly enjoyed all of your recommendations while on the island. It seems like every year I do all of the research, planning and booking our vacations, and honestly I am exhausted by the time we get there. This year was so much better with your assistance, as I was able to sit back and take the advice of a trusted professional and colleauge. It made the biggest difference! As soon as I set foot on the island, I was already relaxed and knew that everything was taken care of. Our hotel transfers were on time and our room at Grace Bay Resort was was exactly how you explained it…heavenly with a perfect view!

Thanks again for the valuable information on all of your island suggestions. The health and safety precautions were appreciated as much as the general island and activities descriptions. You truly have a world class set of resort accommodations to choose from. We look forward to booking our 2012 vacation with you in the coming spring!

Kindly~ Summer

A honeymoon is a once in a lifetime trip, and choosing a romantic destination requires careful planning. While other trips might focus on an activity, like skiing, the honeymoon is a chance for newlyweds to focus on each other.

Every couple will imagine something different when planning their perfectly romantic honeymoon, but hopefully the destinations below will generate some ideas.

24. Isle of Skye, Scotland

A misty island off the northwestern coast of Scotland, Skye is best for honeymooning couples who might enjoy the sound of rain on an old slate roof. Most villages have gracious inns with big fireplaces, questionable plumbing and plenty of local whiskey.

“The whole island is full of beautiful views, lochs and mountains,” writes Matador member Michelle Waite. “All of Skye is great for walks and lovely drives.”

23. Luang Prabang, Laos

Many travel writers, myself included, have pegged Luang Prabang as the most romantic town in Southeast Asia. A flurry of new boutique hotels and classy restaurants doesn’t detract from the languid charm of the old city.

Don’t miss a day trip to Kuang Si waterfall, or a ferry ride across the Mekong to the village of Ban Xieng Mene.

Matador: The ultimate guide to planning a destination wedding

22. Charlevoix, Quebec

Honeymooning in Quebec is a smart choice for North American couples who are tempted by Europe but lack the time or money to cross the Atlantic.

Montreal is big and cosmopolitan, Quebec City is steeped in history, but my pick for the most romantic spot in the province is tiny Baie St. Paul, the cultural center of the Charlevoix region, with countless art galleries, cozy inns and easy access to spectacular hiking trails.

21. Baja, Mexico

Many honeymooners are looking for sun, sand and value. There are plenty of beach resorts in Baja, and although I usually don’t recommend the resort experience, it’s not a bad choice for honeymooning couples who simply want to bask in marital bliss.

There’s a more exciting side of Baja beyond the resort gates, though, and plenty of deserted lagoons where travelers can find solitude.

Matador: The ultimate Baja escape

20. Dominica, Caribbean

Dominica is known as “the Nature Island” — it’s lush, green and mountainous, with villages hanging onto the edge of volcanoes, overlooking the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean. Trails in the tropical forest lead to waterfalls, plunge pools and hot springs. Steamy.

19. Kyoto, Japan

The great travel writer Pico Iyer once went to Kyoto to pursue a monastic lifestyle and study Zen Buddhism, but he ended up falling in love instead.

Like Luang Prabang, Kyoto is dotted with ancient temples that evoke a sense of calm and wonder. Japanese hospitality and grace is unparalleled, and those who can afford to stay in a traditional inn should not pass up the opportunity.

18. Big Sur, California

Big Sur is an epic chunk of sweeping California coastline where lovers can wander for days and weeks between hot spring pools and old growth forests overlooking the Pacific.

Finish off the honeymoon by cruising up to San Francisco on Highway 1 and celebrating with a bottle of champagne and a big Chinatown meal.

17. The Big Island, Hawaii

OK, any island in Hawaii would make for a terrific honeymoon destination, but the Big Island gets my vote because it’s less crowded than Maui or Oahu.

Fewer tourists doesn’t translate into a lack of things to do, however. There’s plenty to explore on the Big Island, including black sand beaches, tropical waterfalls, flowing lava and horse ranches. Don’t miss the sunrise from the summit of Mauna Kea.

16. The Northeast Kingdom, Vermont

Cozy inns, quiet country roads, questionable weather…are you starting to notice a theme?

The Kingdom refers to the rural northeast corner of Vermont, a scattering of communities that manage to be both progressive and conservative, heartily welcoming and fiercely independent.

Instead of choosing a destination for day trips, just get lost on winding dirt roads that always seem to lead to friendly family farms. If you’re planning an autumn wedding, foliage in the Kingdom is spectacular.

15. Wine Country, Argentina

The vineyards of Mendoza and Salta in northwestern Argentina produce terrific red wines against the dramatic backdrop of the Andes.

Argentina is a less expensive destination than wine regions of California or Europe, so couples can take their time, soak up the atmosphere and maybe even sign up for tango lessons.

14. Costa Rica

With two tropical coastlines, pristine rainforest and plenty of spider monkeys, Costa Rica is a great choice for couples looking for a combination of ecotourism, adrenaline thrills and simple relaxation.

13. Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston is a classy Southern town on the Carolina coast with cobblestone streets, historic mansions and incredible shrimp ‘n grits brunches.

Sea-kayaking in the marshes, long walks on barrier island beaches and outdoor concerts on summer nights round out the Charleston experience.

12. Provence, France

Eat cheese, drink wine, make love. Oui, Provence!

11. Antarctica

There are moments on an Antarctic cruise that will take your breath away, but there are also a lot of hours to spend keeping warm in your cabin. This downtime will be more like uptime for honeymooners.

10. Rome, Italy

There aren’t many cities on this list, but Rome demands an exception. It’s a city built for wandering between ancient neighborhoods and discovering hole-in-the-wall restaurants, live music venues and sidewalk cafes.

If you insist on an urban honeymoon, Rome is a classic romantic choice.

9. Cambodia

Cambodia will tug hard on your heartstrings, but there’s a lot of hope in the country these days that balances out the poverty and the crippling legacy of civil war.

Don’t miss the awe-inspiring temples of Angkor, but leave plenty of time to relax on the Gulf of Thailand in Kep, exploring ruined villas and feasting on fresh crab.

8. Turks and Caicos Islands, Caribbean

Jay-Z may fly private jets to the Turks and Caicos, but New Yorkers can get there easily too, now that JetBlue and Continental have introduced non-stop service between Providenciales and JFK / Newark.

Provo, as the main island is called, is where you’ll find almost all of the resorts, but the islands get more charming as you move east along the chain, culminating with tiny Salt Cay, where couples can walk for hours on North Beach without crossing another footprint.

7. Maine Coast

It’s not the best place for swimming, but the Maine shoreline has rugged charm and wicked good seafood. The whole coast is gorgeous, but don’t miss Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island.

Matador: 7 reasons to go to Maine’s Mt. Desert Island

6. Bequia, Caribbean

Like Salt Cay in the Turks and Caicos, Bequia — part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines — is a bit of a backwater, but the slow pace and easygoing atmosphere is perfect for honeymooners exhausted by the stress of hosting their wedding. Travel writer Eva Holland makes the island sound idyllic in her Complete Guide to Bequia:

“The island is safe, compact and enjoys perfect weather pretty well year round. So take a walk. Take a nap on the beach. Drink a papaya juice and watch the sun go down.”

5. South Africa

The afterglow of the 2010 World Cup might be fading, but South Africa is one of the most culturally vibrant and naturally stunning countries in the world.

Live it up in Cape Town and then head to one of the Singita game reserves to stay at a luxurious lodge and get up close to lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalo.

4. Portugal

Tiny Portugal sometimes gets overshadowed by its massive former colony, Brazil, but the combination of castles, beach towns and distinctive local wines is tough to beat.

Lisbon is one of the oldest capitals in Europe and many of the homes are built with thick stone walls, good for keeping cool in summer and toasty warm in the wintertime.

3. Morocco

Morocco is an incredibly diverse country, both in terms of natural landscapes and cultural heritage. In one trip, you can chill on the beach in Essaouira — where Jimi Hendrix used to hang out — see the world’s tallest mosque minaret, and trek through massive sand dunes in the Sahara.

2. Tahiti

Nothing has ever gone wrong in Tahiti.

1. Switzerland

Straight-laced Switzerland might not be a sultry or exotic destination, but honeymooning couples shouldn’t need much extra romantic inspiration.

Switzerland is stunningly beautiful, safe and orderly. Couples can simply enjoy each other — which is really the whole point of the trip.

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Happy Travels

Hi Skip,
Sorry that it has taken me a few days to get back with you regarding our trip. It has been crazy busy after getting back and flying right to Vegas for Jackie’s wedding, I am exhausted.
We had an AWESOME time at Temptations. Forget about any of your pre-conceived thoughts about what it may be cause it’s not like that at all.
First, I was impressed with how many people we met that had been there repeat trips. I mean people that have been there 5, 8, 10, 13 times in a row. They bring groups of friends or they meet the same people there that they met the year before or before that. We ended up meeting a group that had met previously, they live all over and meet there every year for vacation. It was great.
Alot of people from Canada. Alot. They were fun to talk to…
Great party atmosphere.
But, they also have the quiet pool if you want to get away from that.
The beach was ok. Small in depth, literally walk down the stairs from the pool and the water was 20 feet away. Not really a complaint. A little bit more seaweed then I personally like but, there was always someone out there raking it up so they are definitely giving it a good effort to keep it under control. There is always a chair to find on the beach. Not so much at the pool. Well at least the sexy pool. We were able to snag some here and there but, if you didn’t get up early, you weren’t going to get one. And we are not the early risers, it’s vacation!
This was my first time to the Cancun area so I was surprised by how commercial it was, I knew it would be but, I guess I thought Temptations would be a little more secluded. When you were on the beach you could look down and see all of the other hotels. There were vendors that would walk up and down the beach trying to sell stuff, that was a little annoying but, I got that as the atmosphere of Cancun. Not to bad after you told them no twice. People from other resorts would walk the beach to so there was alot of activity.
The entertainment staff was pretty good. Some more enthusiastic then others.That wouldn’t keep us from giving a bad review though. They had fun activities by the “sexy pool”. Once afternoon they had a DJ by the pool, that was great.The one complaint we would have is that they played the same music over and over again. So the DJ’s at night and by the pool were a breath of fresh air.
The nighttime entertainment was good. We had a great time at the lingerie party. They really do mean lingerie. They would not let the guys in with a shirt. They had a pool party another night, not in the pool though, around the pool. That was fun, they had some acrobatics and a Michael Jackson impersonator. Every night they had offers to go to the clubs. Pretty decent offers with a shuttle taking you there and back. We didn’t participate in any of those but, it was nice to have the option. There was always a night time event at the resort though. You could never really be bored. Some were cheesy that we didn’t stay for, others were good.
The room was nice, contemporary in style, alot of red everywhere. We were on the third floor, no elevators. No to big of a deal for us. We had a nice little balcony over looking the beach. More palm trees in the way but a decent view that we didn’t expect. We heard of other rooms with a two person shower, we did not have that but, it seemed like a common thing. We thought room service came with the all inclusive but, it did not. I read online that it did, I think it was an upgrade.
Food was good. I would say close to 4 star. I know they are rated 3 but, I would give them a little more credit. They had an Asian and an Italian restaurant you had to make reservations for and wear nice clothes. Me and Jonathan like that. Plus we were use to it from El Dorado. The food at the Asian restaurant was great. One of my favorites. They have a Caribbean restaurant, not so much Caribbean but the food was good. If you wanted a glass of wine with dinner it was extra. A little disappointed in that. Lunch options weren’t bad. Buffet was actually really good. I thought the food was always fresh and a good selection. At the paty’o bar lounge which is open till 6am, they have appetizers until about 10-11 maybe and then they have a guy on the grill until 6am serving burgers and hot dogs with fries. We took back a plate almost every night to our room. The burgers were terrible but the hot dogs were awesome.
If you ever have anyone go, tell them to bring singles. Everyone tips and it’s the only way to get attention at the bar. We threw down a 10 the first day at the bar and we were good the rest of the time, they get to know you real quick as I’m sure you know. But with everyone around you tipping as well, good to be prepared. We tipped at El Dorado to but, we definitely tipped here more. It was well worth it!
The hot tubs are not hot tubs. They are in the pool so they are pool temperature with jets.
The service was excellent. Can’t say anything bad about anyone.
We didn’t get hassled into any time share stuff. They threw it out there when we were checking in but, we never heard anything after that.
They have a “sports bar” in the resort, pretty gross. They need to update that for sure. The only sports they show is soccer. We went in and played one game of pool and left.
We ended up buying larger mugs for our drinks because they serve everything in tiny plastic glasses. After the first few hours we couldn’t handle that anymore. Moved up to the big gulp basically. We heard from others that frequent that no matter where you go in Cancun, you better bring your own big cup. Lesson learned.
All in all we had a great time, we have a great time no matter where we are though, lol. I would go back with a group of friends. I can see our group of friends having a blast together there. I’m not the type who would want to go somewhere 10 times in a row and it wouldn’t hold my attention for me to go back that much but, I would go back and recommend it for a group of friends or couples.
Other people there have been to the Temptations in Los Cabos and said it was not as much of a party as Cancun. Just a heads up in case you ever have anyone ask.
I think you would have a blast there Skip! Take a couple friends and go check it out.
For the money of Temptations, well worth it!!!

Thanks so much for all of your help with our trip. You make it worry free!
Now we plan for Vegas in October!!!

Talk to you soon…..
Marie

Take care and happy travels.

Skip-
Thank you so very much for booking our honeymoon trip to Bora Bora for us.  It was absolutely WONDERFUL!  The entire experience was awesome. The resort was amazing, and the staff was excellent.

They took very good care of us; the bungalow was a castle; housekeeping was always making sure the room was clean and that we had plenty of fresh towels.  The snorkeling was out of this world.  We dove off of our platform, and enjoyed the sea life right around our bungalow and the entire area of the resort, there was no need to go out on an excursion.  We did take advantage of the boat transfer to the main island of Bora Bora for shopping and sight seeing, and were so pleased that we chose the Hilton Bora Bora Nui Spa resort!  The seclusion and raw beauty of the resort makes this a crown jewel in our book!

We have already decided that we want to go back there for our 5th Anniversary!

Thanks again-

Amy and Robert Devereaux