Sandals Resorts Offers Free Renewal of Vows Ceremony

Sandals Resorts, known for providing the most romantic vacation experiences in the Caribbean, is sharing the love this new year and offering couples the chance to rekindle the romance by providing an intimate Renewal of Vows ceremony and reception for FREE this fall with a stay of six nights or longer in any room category. Designed to capture the beauty of the Caribbean and the Luxury Included® resort experience, each ceremony provides couples the opportunity to make new memories as they celebrate their marriage and reaffirm their commitment to one another.

"A Sandals Renewal of Vows ceremony is perfectly tailored to create the ideal romantic experience and moments that will be treasured for a lifetime," says Marsha-Ann Brown, Director of Romance, Sandals Resorts. "This fall, we are honored to offer guests complimentary vow renewal ceremonies, to show our commitment to keeping the love alive forever."

Married couples looking to profess their love this autumn will enjoy a complimentary Renewal of Vows ceremony and reception styled by Martha Stewart that incorporates elements of the Sandals Weddings by Martha Stewart 'Beautiful Beginnings' theme. Featuring simple, elegant touches such as a bright magenta or a white dendrobium bouquet and boutonniere; a reception table for the couple and up to six guests, set with crisp white linens and a lovely dendrobium orchid centerpiece; and a charming, white two-tiered celebratory cake, the Beautiful Beginnings décor is the perfect setting for such a romantic occasion.

From start to finish, every Renewal of Vows ceremony at Sandals Resorts includes all the touches a couple could want, from a Personal Vow Renewal Consultant, both during planning and while on resort, to a romantic "honeymoon" dinner the evening of their ceremony. All Renewal of Vows ceremonies also include all the elements couples can expect for their special day, such as recorded musical accompaniment, an elegant reception with chilled hors d'oeuvres and sparkling wine, as well as a Renewal of Vows Officiant and personalized commemorative certificate. Following the festivities, couples celebrating a vow renewal at Sandals Resorts also receive a full breakfast in bed on the morning of their choice, a romantic in-room turn down service, a 5x7 "second honeymoon" photograph and branded beach bag.

For guests wishing to celebrate their Renewal of Vows alongside the whole family, Sandals Resorts sister-brand, Beaches Resorts, is also offering the same FREE Renewal of Vows promotion with stays of six nights or longer.

*Information Courtesy of Sandals Resorts


If you have any questions regarding Sandals Resorts or Beaches Resorts my contact information is included below.  Thanks for taking the time to read. I hope you have a great day!

----------------------------------------------------

Brandon Johnson, CTA
Gold Certified Sandals Specialist
Follow: @bjohnsonCTA
Email: bjohnson@elitetravelconsulting.com

Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia Resort Review

Anse Chastanet is set on 600 acres of tropical beachfront property in the shadows of St. Lucia’s famed Piton Mountains. Known for its lush tropical surroundings, black sand beach, and unique nature inspired and inclusive suites, Anse Chastanet provides you the opportunity to get away from it all and slip into a truly romantic Caribbean experience.

Literally built into a mountainside and only steps away from amazing snorkeling and diving, as part of a protected marine reserve, Anse Chastanet is the brainchild of architect Nick Troubetzkoy. He has seamlessly crafted a property synonymous with the nature that surrounds it, most notably though suites literally built around trees and 3-walled suites that open right up to amazing views of the surrounding area but remain completely secluded. It’s the perfect romantic atmosphere.

The beaches at Anse Chastanet are unique in that they are black sand beaches. I had never seen a black sand beach until I visited the property and while it isn’t typical to what I am used to in the Caribbean I definitely thought it was cool. A word of advice though, if you think that white sand beaches can get hot in the afternoon I seriously suggest that you bring a pair of flip-flops for the black sand here.

For a small boutique style property Anse Chastanet actually offers a wide range of dining options including a fully vegetarian restaurant, Emeralds. From the beach grill to the fine dining in TreeHouse Restaurant all of the dining options are amazing. I had the privilege of trying more than my fair share from the menus and you won’t be disappointed.

Overall Anse Chastanet caters to romance and those that wish to get away from it all, but there are plenty of activities for you should you need a little adventure amidst your tropical escape. The resort offers yoga, tennis, sunset sailing, sea kayaking or jungle biking, hiking, bird-watching among the ruins of an 18th century colonial plantation, and some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the Caribbean.

I recommend Anse Chastanet to those looking for a truly romantic experience, true nature lovers, and for those really looking to escape it all for a few days. It's a great property and one of my favorites in St. Lucia.

----------------------------------------------------

Brandon Johnson, CTA
Caribbean Specialist
Follow: @bjohnsonCTA

Sandals Negril Resort & Spa, Negril Jamaica Resort Review

Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa is located on famed 7 Mile Beach in Negril Jamaica. A combination of its amazing stretch of beach, its collection of rooms and suites, great dining, its laid back atmosphere, and its amazing staff make it one of my favorites in Jamaica.

Sandals Negril is a Couples Only resort that literally sits on 7 Mile Beach in Jamaica. Its close proximity to the sand makes it so that you are always only a few steps away. Grab a drink on your way down to ultimate relaxation on one the best beach in Jamaica. If sun and sand are your style then Sandals Negril should be a perfect fit. The beach is definitely one of the biggest draws but it is the rooms that make the resort one of my favorites.

Boasting a collection of swim up suites, you can literally walk out of your balcony and into a private plunge area. It’s the perfect romantic setting as you have your own area to take a late night dip if you like. The resort also offers the Millionaire Plantation suites which feature their own private pool and Sunset Loft suites which give you 2 levels to enjoy amazing views of the Caribbean Sea. If those options are a little lush for you, Sandals Negril also offers a wide range of luxury garden and ocean view rooms. Honestly, every room at Sandals Negril is worth the trip and it really is only a small part of your overall experience.

Sandals Negril offers 6 gourmet dining options for its guest. From Caribbean to Oriental there are plenty of options to keep your palate busy on your trip. If All Inclusive conjures up images of long buffet lines you can rest assured that you will be in for a welcomed surprise here at Sandals Negril. There are also several bar options for you to enjoy some after dinner (or lunch… or breakfast) cocktails, including a swim up bar amid the excitement of the main pool.

If there is one thing that I can say really sets Sandals Negril apart from other resorts in the area, it’s the amazing staff. Within the first 2 days of your trip many will know you by name and you’ll be met with cheery greetings from everyone from grounds keepers to the butlers. Sandals Negril offers both Concierge and Butler service for travelers looking to really take complete advantage of the experience. I will warn you though… if you opt for Butler service at Sandals you will never want to go without it again. Sandals refers to their Butlers as Dream Insurance and they certainly live up to the expectations.

I recommend Sandals Negril to couples who are looking for a laid back, luxury experience, an amazing beach, and fun in the sun. It’s a perfect Honeymoon resort and I confidently recommend it as such on a regular basis.

From locations on the East Coast to Jamaica you can expect a 7-night stay at Sandals Negril to run in the $4000-$5000 range. If you are looking for one of the premier suites with Butler service it will probably be more in the $5000 - $8000 range and worth every penny.

----------------------------------------------------

Brandon Johnson, CTA
Gold Certified Sandals Specialist
Follow: @bjohnsonCTA

Secrets Resorts Introduces: Secrets The Vine

Secrets Resorts & Spas will introduce its brand to Cancun's popular Hotel Zone with the opening of adults-only Secrets The Vine Cancun in August 2012.

The newly built Secrets The Vine is located on the golden Yucatan Peninsula coastline. The property features 495 luxurious guest rooms, all with ocean views, private balconies, Italian porcelain floors, and teak wood furnishings.

The Secrets The Vine's lobby celebrates fine wine in both its design and menu offerings with a designated wine tasting area for guests, the Enoteca (wine cellar). Featuring a Mexican handcrafted wood table with seating for up to 30 guests, a unique wine wall housing as many as 3000 varieties of wine, and sommelier-lead tastings of some of the world's finest wine collections, the Enoteca promises guests a rich and relaxing wine tasting experience.

All resort guests 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 seven distinctive restaurants and three bars offering a variety of experiences. Additionally, guests have access to a range of activities including land and water sports, daily special events such as movies on the beach, dance classes, nightly shows, evening entertainment and more.

Secrets The Vine's 12,580 square-feet spa offers the perfect atmosphere for those seeking relaxation with a selection of signature treatments and hydrotherapy experience inspired by the underground limestone caves and subterranean open water pools of the Yucatan Peninsula. A fitness center facility and full service beauty salon also are available.

The resort's variety of meeting spaces, including 17,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space overlooking the Nichupté lagoon, is ideal for group meetings and incentive travelers. Secrets The Vine also provides the perfect romantic setting for couples with many special amenities; and wedding, honeymoon and anniversary packages available.

Introductory Rate:

To celebrate the impending opening, Secrets Resorts & Spas is offering a limited time pre-opening special of $160 per person per night based on double occupancy for travel between August 1 - October 28, 2012, and $175 per person per night for travel between October 29 – December 27, 2012.*

Information Courtesy of Secrets Resorts & Spas

----------------------------------------------------

Brandon Johnson, CTA
Follow: @bjohnsonCTA

Must-Try Jamaican Excursions

I recently booked a couple heading to Jamaica for their Honeymoon. They were booked at an All Inclusive resort but wanted to make the trip special by adding in some off property excursions. In our last consultation before their trip we decided that they would take a Sunset Catamaran Cruise. When they returned, and we had our post-trip follow up, I was delighted to hear that the catamaran cruise was one of the highlights of the trip. They were able to have fun with some other couples and enjoy some romantic time together sailing as the sun went down. They felt it was a must-try Jamaican excursion.

One of the big draws of All Inclusive Resorts in Jamaica is that there are so many activities on-property that you really don’t ever have to leave. It’s a great program, but if you like a little adventure there are definitely some Jamaican excursions that I would recommend. A catamaran cruise is a great excursion for anyone. For couples you can opt for a sunset cruise along the island for some extra romance on your trip. But, there are also plenty of companies that go the more booze-cruise route for those of you that like more of a party.

2 other excursions that I personally like to participate in are climbing Dunn’s River Falls and going on the Zip Line Canopy Tour. Dunn’s River Falls is the first Jamaican excursion that I ever got to experience. You spend an hour or 2 climbing the waterfalls, taking funny pictures, and acting like a kid again. I recommend it to my clients and if I have the time and I’m in the Ocho Rios area I try to make it a habit to visit. The Zip Line Canopy Tour is also a great Jamaican excursion. Experience the rainforest by traversing down lines by a series of decks and platforms. If you are a nature lover or adventure traveler it’s a great way to spend a few hours. Plus, they offer different courses for varying levels of experience and comfortability.

A great option that not a lot of people know, is that by using a travel professional to book your trip, you can also pre-book your excursions to secure space for the days and times you would like. It’s one of the many benefits of using a travel professional but we’ll get to that in another post.

----------------------------------------------------

Brandon Johnson, CTA
Follow Me on Twitter!

Jade Mountain's New Excursion for Cruising Couples

Helicopter Tour - St. Lucia

I read an article on Travel Agent Central recently about Jade Mountain offering a new day excursion for cruisers to St. Lucia. The "Whisk Her Away to Jade Mountain" promotion allows couples cruising to St. Lucia the unique opportunity to spend the day on a luxury excursion to one of the premier resorts in the Caribbean. Upon arriving in Castries from the capital Soufriere, guests are whisked away by private helicopter to Jade Mountain where they are met with a champagne toast. Along the way they will have the amazing experience of seeing St. Lucia and all of its beauty from the air. Guests will spend the day enjoying the amazing property of Jade Mountain before departing again by helicopter and heading back to the cruise ship from Castries.



View from Moon Suite at Jade Mountain



I’ll start out by saying that the excursion is expensive… very expensive. Like, $2,799 per couple, or $3,099 for a group of 4, expensive. But, I’ll follow that up by saying that there is great value in the package. If you have the funds available, and want an experience that will have you booking a trip to St. Lucia the moment you get home, then I would absolutely recommend it. As a Travel Consultant that has personally visited Jade Mountain I will tell you that it is one of my favorite resorts in the world. Amazing architecture, true relaxation, and some of the most breathtaking views you will ever see, lay the foundation for an amazing tranquil experience away from all of life’s hassles. Every room features only 3 walls, the 4th giving way to an infinity pool with views of the majestic Pitons. Add in a private helicopter tour, the best way to fully experience the beauty of St. Lucia, and you have the makings of lifelong memories all packed into one day. It’s definitely an adventure that everyone should experience at least once.

----------------------------------------------------

Brandon Johnson, CTA
Follow: @bjohnsonCTA

My Love Affair With The Caribbean

"Bird's" Eye View of Jamaica

My first trip to the Caribbean was to Jamaica when I was 17 years old. I spent a week at an All Inclusive resort soaking up the sun, snorkeling, making friends, and having a blast. It was this first trip that really made me fall in love with the Caribbean. The people, the music, the sun and sand… there’s just something about the Caribbean that really makes me feel at home. I make it back every year and each time I go I find it harder and harder to come back.

There a many positive aspects of an All Inclusive vacation to the Caribbean. The first is that the Caribbean is one of the most beautiful destinations on earth. If you’re looking for sunshine and sand it really sets the standard. Endless stretches of white sand beaches are definitely one of the biggest draws. Another great aspect of a Caribbean vacation is that you can go All Inclusive, meaning that you can book a vacation package where all of your food, drinks (alcoholic and otherwise), activities, and entertainment are all included in one upfront price. You don’t have to worry about the hassle of how much money to bring with you because you’ve already taken care of it before you left. The third and most important aspect of the Caribbean is the vibe. There’s a laid back, easy going, feeling that really allows you to completely escape the stresses of real life. I’d argue that the draw of the Caribbean is really more about the vibe and people than it is about the actual destination.

One thing that I make sure to tell prospective Caribbean travelers is to make as many friends as possible. You’d be surprised how many people come back from vacation with lifelong friendships. Many travelers even plan future trips with each other so that they can relive the experience again and again. I’d argue that I have more friends in the Caribbean than any other place in the world. It's one of the many reasons that I continue my love affair with the Caribbean.

----------------------------------------------------

Brandon Johnson, CTA
Follow: @bjohnsonCTA

Donovan House DC, Washington DC Hotel Review

If you're a young traveler who just so happens to find yourself in Washington DC you might find yourself looking to get away from the museums and monuments to something a little more exciting and urban. A great option - Donovan House.

Advertised as bringing "urban chic to the nations capital" it definitely fits the mold... if you can call urban chic a mold that is. On what appears to be just another round-about in downtown DC, Donovan House is a refreshing contemporary hideaway from the history and tradition that dominates our nation's capital. From the minute you step into the lobby and take a look around, you get the feeling that Donovan House is a hotel that is just... cool. Lobby seating suspended from the cieling, leather canopy beds, spiral showers and great views of the city all add to the perception that you've stepped into more of an upscale lounge than a hotel. Did I mention the rooftop pool and bar?

ADC (Above DC) is the outward expression of the inner chic that makes Donovan House unique. Private cabanas, 2 full service bars, and amazing food from Zentan, the hotels Asian fusion restaraunt, make ADC just as unique as Donovan House itself. It's the perfect atmosphere to relax and meet new people but also let loose with a few of ADC's signature cocktails. You really can't go wrong with a rooftop bar and lounge but ADC is one of my favorites.

I mentioned that ADC offers food from Zentan, Donovan House's acclaimed restaurant from celebrity chef Susur Lee. What I didn't mention yet is that the food is amazing. Asian cuisine with a contemporary flair, the Washington Post dubbed it "minimalistic but sexy", and... they pretty much nailed it on the head. If you don't get a chance to actually stay at Donovan House you should at least go eat at Zentan if you get the chance. You won't regret it.

All in all Donovan House is more than worth the stay if you get the chance. They bring a unexpected unique spin to accomodations in DC and do it with flair. Kick back in a leather canopy bed watching your flat screen, sample some great food, and party it up AboveDC. I don't know about you... but Donovan House is my kind of hotel.

Stayed at Donovan House? What was your experience like?
Are there other hotels in DC that you would recommend?

----------------------------------------------------

Brandon Johnson, CTA

Follow: @bjohnsonCTA