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Zoetry wins 5 Diamond award

Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya, the first resort under Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts brand, received the highly coveted AAA Five Diamond award from the travel industry authority for the sixth consecutive time for providing travelers with the highest levels of service and accommodations.

“This recognition validates Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts’ updated approach to luxury travel and the rapid growth of the brand,”

Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya, the brand’s marquee property, offers guests a new type of luxury experience that combines elements of wellness, serenity and social and environmental responsibility treating every guest to an indulgent experience without the guilt. The 90-oceanfront suite boutique resort offers the ultimate vacation experience with an array of Endless Privileges™. Accommodations and amenities include personalized in-suite services with such features as free worldwide calling, evening catamaran sails, complimentary daily laundry services and Wi-Fi throughout the resort, plus an exquisite award-winning culinary experience available at four on-site gourmet restaurants and a transforming spa experience at the first Thalasso Center & Spa in North America.

Five Diamond establishments do more than provide luxurious surroundings; they consistently deliver a high level of personal attention to every guest. To achieve this level of hospitality is a rare accomplishment. AAA is pleased to honor Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya with the AAA Five Diamond Award.

With two resorts operating under Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts (Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita in Puerto Morelos, Mexico and Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic) the brand is slated to open two additional properties by the end of 2009. New resorts include Golden Bear Lodge & Spa Cap Cana: The Zoëtry Collection in the Dominican Republic and Zoëtry Casa del Mar Los Cabos in Mexico.

Posted by Geoff on November 16, 2009 | Permalink | Post a Comment

Travel Agents Yea or Nay?

Last year, a good friend took an international trip with a two-stop flight itinerary. Afterwards, he reflected on how beat up he felt when it was over: "Adding that third airport into the mix seemed to add a ton of extra travel this year; it was rough."

I asked how he booked the flights. He said that he'd looked on a number of the big travel booking sites, and that the itinerary he finally purchased was the best combination of duration, flight times and price he could find, and it took him six hours to accomplish it. My response: "Next time, call me first. You'll feel a lot better when it's all over."

The following year, he did just that, and I came up with options that he could never have found himself using a single booking site -- specifically, a short and affordable Southwest flight that put him in an airport with countless options for direct flights to his final destination. What would have been another expensive, six-flight endurance test was replaced by a far less demanding trip and he spent no time to accomplish it.

Travel agent on about 50 - 60 percent of all trips, especially International trips or vacations, so when CNN marvels that travel agents may be making a comeback, I have to agree.

Most travel agents do not charge a fee, they get paid by the resort or tour company.

The Return of the Travel Agent

Why now? Clients found that the likelihood of using a travel agent increases in direct proportion to the abundance and complexity of travel options you can find on the Internet. Many travelers are discovering the following:

In offering more options and amenities, online travel sites have actually made it more confusing to figure out what they are selling, not less so. Sales abound but, what are the restrictions? Is it really a sale or are they just advertising the regular price and calling it a sale price? yes, this does happen quite a bit. A good example of this is with one client who found a great sale on one of the online booking engines, The booking engine advertised that it was an unheard of sale. I found the same thing with one of our tour companies for $300 less than the fantastic online sale. DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ.

The explosion of restrictions and fees -- many of which are not obvious to the casual travel buyer -- further muddies understanding of the bottom line on any itinerary. Many online booking companies do not add in their fees and the taxes until the very last step in the booking process.

The absence of a number of popular airlines from major booking engines -- the juggernaut Southwest being the most glaring -- eliminates what could well turn out to be a specific traveler's absolute best itinerary.

The big online travel sites got too smart for their own good; by tidying up and repackaging all the data each according to their own assumptions about travel purchasing, they show us what they think we want to see, but not always what we really want to see. That is, by becoming "online travel agents," rather than mere booking sites, they end up in competition with real travel agents, who can usually do the work better than computers can and can search for the best deals so you do not have to.

Despite being "smarter" and more comprehensive than ever, the typical travel booking experience has way too many dead ends. Whether it be the inability to get seats together, or disappearing fare sales, or the inability to lock in a fare for a short time, booking online is like being trapped inside a bad video game with countless trapdoors and false exits.

And my number one reason to use a travel agent: the reduction in flight capacity by the airlines has resulted in significantly more full flights on the routes I fly. At the same time, the booking sites have gotten only marginally better at offering seat choices and at seating companions together. Just try to book your family on a multi-flight trip and you'll see what I mean. Travel agents can hack their way through all this stuff and look in multiple locations for the best prices, saving you work.

It has gotten to the point that many travelers truly dread the moment they have to sit down at the computer to research travel. Seems like a good time to call in a pro, no?

If this describes you, or even just your next trip, here are some tips and guidelines for choosing, communicating with and evaluating a travel agent.

Does the travel agent specialize in they type of travel you are looking for? Do they charge a fee? How many years have they been in the travel industry? Do they take the time to listen to you and really understand what you are looking for? Do you feel comfortable working with them? Are they approved by the Better Business Bureau?

Let's hear from you, Travel Agents Yea or Nay?

Posted by Geoff on September 30, 2009 | Permalink | Post a Comment

Is it really a great travel deal?

I want to comment on a lot of the travel deals people are seeing out there. After you read the fine print and find out when the deal is good for and what the restrictions are, is it still a good deal?

I read one the other day that after reading the fine print and finding out when I could use it, it turned out I could use it 1 day in my life if I flew at midnight on the night of a full moon with 3 airplane changes and the sale price was per person not including taxes or surcharges. What is a surcharge by the way?

Be careful when looking at deals, they can be very confusing and somewhat misleading, and some are not actually deals at all, they are just regular pricing that someone has attached the term "deal" to. When you think about it, how do you know what is a deal or not a deal? Is it just because someone says it is a deal?

An example is, I saw a deal and went in and priced a regular package with the same components and the price came out less than the so called deal.

You see anyone can attach the word "deal" to any price.

Can you tell the difference between a real deal and an advertised deal?

Let me know your thoughts.

Posted by Geoff on July 16, 2009 | Permalink | Post a Comment

Ocho Rios Jamaica

It is a bit of a mystery, but the name "Ocho Rios" has two possible sources: it may be a simple translation from the Spanish "eight rivers" or a corruption of "las chorreras" (the spouts), after the large number of beautiful waterfalls that surround the area. Whichever is correct, the locals refer to it with no small measure of fondness as "Ochee." Located about 60 miles from Annotto on a half-moon shaped sliver of a cove on Jamaica's northern coastline, Ocho Rios was once a sleepy fishing village. Its beauty and proximity to some of Jamaica's most enticing natural wonders have made it a favorite destination for visitors. Situated between the jungle mountains and its amazing beach, Ochee is also one of the key cruise ship ports in Jamaica.

One of the best ways to enjoy the area is to hire a taxi for the day. Rates are very reasonable and most drivers are very capable guides. You can arrange a driver through your hotel, or taxis can be found in town by the market on Newlin Street. Look for the ones with the red public passenger plates. Taxis are not metered, so agree on your fare in advance. Most drivers will either wait for you or will return to pick you up later in the day.

In addition to Fern Gully, which is a local "must see", ask the driver to take the coastal road east to Noel Coward's cliff-side home Firefly. During the heyday of his reign in Jamaica, Coward entertained such the rich and famous here. Nearby Rio Nuevo, Port Maria and Discovery Bay all offer a glimpse into the history of the area, as do the working plantations that still exist at Brimmer Hall and Prospect Estates, open to the public. Runaway slaves once used the nearby Green Grotto Caves as a hideout. The Bob Marley museum, as well as his burial place, at Nine Miles is nearby as well.

Nearby Dunn's River Falls cascades over terraced rock running from the mountains to the beach. Guides lead travelers up and down the falls although it is allowed to walk the distance unaccompanied. Water shoes or sandals are a must to prevent slipping on the rocks. There are several points along the way to stop and enjoy the scenery and cool water pools. The climb can take over an hour if you don't rush, and there is no need to do so! Along the way, photographers will take your picture and offer you a momento of your visit. Crafts are available for sale, including some of the beautiful wood carving for which Jamaica is so rightly famous. When you are finished at the falls, return to stroll slowly along Main Street the clock tower and enjoy a meal of Jamaican jerk pork at the Jerk Centre near the market.

There are many activities in Ocho Rios in which you may indulge. Horseback riding, golf, tennis, scuba, deep-sea fishing are all available and easily accessible, not to mention shopping and just laying on the white sand beaches for which the area is best known.Children can swim with dolphins at Dolphin Cove. If you like to bike, there are good guided rides through the Blue Mountain tropical rain forests that typically offer lunch as a part of the program. The rainforest at Fern Gully provides deep, green forest glades through which visitors may drive or walk. Horseback riding along the beach, and even into the water, is available for those who want to experience the joy and freedom of a beach excursion on horseback. Many of the same equistrian centers also offer mountain bike tours, Jeep safaris and canopy trips through the region. Throughout the day and into the evening, party cruises leave and return with hordes of young guests, many taking advantage of the opportunity to over-indulge in the local Red Stripe beer. Offshore, there are a number of good coral reefs, including Devil's Reef, for snorkelers and divers to enjoy.

Posted by Geoff on July 3, 2009 | Permalink | Post a Comment

JAMAICA

The island of Jamaica is the third largest in the Caribbean. It is ideally located, capturing trade winds that assist in maintaining a near constant temperature between 77 and 82 degrees and which bless the mountainous island's northeast coast with abundant rain. Jamaica supports a wide diversity of plant and animal life. More than half the island is higher than 800 feet above sea level. The economy depends heavily on the tourism business, and some of the Caribbean's finest resorts and elegant boutique hotels are found on the beaches of Jamaica.

But Jamaica offers more than lovely beaches and crystal clear water. As wonderful as those things are, they are in plentiful supply in the Caribbean. Jamaica is more - much more. Jamaica is deep emerald green rainforests, waterfalls and mountain streams. Jamaica is an array of birds - colorful parrots, macaws, and hummingbirds with tails that curl three times their body length. Jamaica is reggae and intricate wood carving. Jamaica's culture does not lurk around its edges. You do not have to go looking for it in museums. Jamaica's culture permeates the island. It drifts through every breeze and wafts through every moment on the island, whether in the smell of roadside food preparation or in the rhythm and sound of the music present everywhere. Jamaica dances and invites you to dance with it. The Jamaican culture has endured slavery, oppression and bad times. Its culture, like its people, not only survives, not only endures, but thrives.

The island is not without its scars. There is poverty and the street and beach merchants can be aggressive in plying their trade. However, the population as a whole possesses a warmth and a humor that is characteristically Jamaican and visitors miss a real opportunity for adventure if they fail to engage the people beyond the boundaries of the hotels and resorts.

History and Culture

The English wrested Jamaica away from the Spanish in the mid-1600s and used the island as a base throughout the Caribbean. They permitted pirates to hold sway over some areas of the island like Port Royal to continue to threaten Spanish interests in the rest of the Caribbean. Sugarcane and banana plantations, worked by slaves, became the economic base of early Jamaica. But in the mountainous interior, free and runaway slaves, known as Maroons, lived and routinely attacked the British. Two great slave rebellions finally ended the ignoble institution of slavery.

Thus, the cultural heritage of the island has its origins in the slave trade. As the slaves learned the language of their colonial masters, they melded and mixed it with their own. African dialect and English flowed between Spanish and French to find expression in "patois" spoken with the distinctly Jamaican accent mimicked by so many but found only here. The general consensus is that Jamaica has more churches per square mile than any other place in the world. Every denomination finds a home here, as well as Jews, Hindus, Muslims and Rastafarians. The latter group, the Rastafarians, first appeared in the 1930s, and worships the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie. The dreadlocks worn by the group is indicative of their belief that hair should not cut or combed. It is well known, and overly emphasized, that Rastifarians use marijuana as a sacrament, but the focus of the religion is on inward spiritual development.

The arts, woodcarving, music, and dance of Jamaica are uniquely distinctive and immediately recognizable. Reggae has found an audience worldwide, its beat a fusion of African and Caribbean rhythms. Its most famous artist, Bob Marley, achieved international fame and remains an influence many years after his death. Jamaican religions have greatly colored the folk music, and the lyrics express the deep spirituality of the people.

Jamaican cuisine is likewise unique and richly flavored with the fusions of tastes both familiar and strange. Jerk marinade, created from island spices, is added to fish, pork, chicken and beef. Seafood, breads and native fruits are island specialties: ackee and saltfish with roast breadfruit, peas and rice, escoveitched fish, and bammy, a pancake shaped, deep-fried cassava bread.

Seeing Jamaica

Surrounded by crystal blue and green waters with high mountain peaks and a lush jungle, visitors find much to do and see - layer on top the country's thick culture of food and music, and the temptation to shoot off in any direction in search of the authentic Jamaica is strong. Vacationers have the option of commanding their own transportation for day-trips to see the countryside up close and personal.

Driving in Jamaica can be challenging, especially in rural areas. The roads are narrow and winding, often pitted with potholes half the size of the tire of any 4X4. Washouts and rockslides are not uncommon, and at night, the roads are pitch black in the countryside. Close encounters with pigs, cows and chickens are common. But the drive is worthwhile, especially through the Blue Mountains. The tropical rain forests of African tulips and the mango and breadfruit trees are amazing to behold.

If you decide to self-drive the island, ask your travel agent to rent a vehicle that is dependable in all circumstances, such as a good SUV 4x4. A U.S. or Canadian driver's license is valid in Jamaica, but the driver must be at least 21 years old to drive and 25 to rent a vehicle. Driving is on the left-hand side of the road in the British fashion. The speed limit is 30 MPH in towns and 50 MPH on highways. Drivers should proceed with caution and drive slowly until they get the rhythm of traffic flow.

For the most part, traffic in rural areas is light, but local drivers are fearless, so most visitors find it best to cede the right of way to others to be on the safe side. Cars frequently stop for pedestrians, animals or to hold a conversation, so drivers should travel slowly and be prepared for frequent interruptions and stops. Horn-honking is not unusual and is typically either a greeting or a warning of an upcoming traffic problem.

Rental car offices are common, and rentals can typically be arranged in advance. The local companies may be less expensive, but larger franchise operations will offer roadside assistance and other services to assist visitors, as well as more locations throughout the island for greater flexibility in returning the vehicle. You can anticipate a relatively large security deposit if you do not take out insurance. For driving directions, obtain a copy of the Jamaica Tourist Board's "Discover Jamaica" map. Finally, remember that many of the petrol stations in rural areas will accept only cash â?? no credit cards, so be prepared.

Of course, automobiles are not your only option. Renting a bicycle or motorbike provides a fun, easy way to explore. Jamaica requires the use of a helmet on motor bikes, and given some road conditions and the ever-present hazard of free-roaming livestock, this is a good idea in any event. Many vendors rent both bicycles and motorbikes at excellent rates.

In addition to driving, most resorts and hotels will arrange for guided drives around the island. It is a great way to get off of the beaten path, see the real Jamaica, and to slowly acclimate to a side of the island not found behind the gates. A visit to Jamaica stays with a traveler. Unlike other islands, the experience of Jamaica is somehow deeper and more transfixing. A longing develops deep inside that is curable only by way of a return visit.

NEXT WEEK, OCHO RIOS OR "OCHEE" as the locals call it!

Posted by Geoff on March 19, 2009 | Permalink | Post a Comment