I spent 5 days with my 6 year old exploring the Orlando area. We had a great time at Magic Kingdom, Seaworld, and Icon Park. I would absolutely recommend Orlando for families of all ages!

A lovely holiday at the Ocean Riviera Paradise with my 7 year old. This is a good quality 4.5* resort with lots of wonderful features and activities. The resort has a number of different sections that you can pick and choose from to ensure you are locking in the right style of All Inclusive holiday for you and your travelling companions. I highly recommend treating yourself to a delicious crepe next to the Eden swimming pool!

If South Africa is not on your "to do list"  you should definitely add it!       This is a beautiful country with some of the best customer service I have ever experienced!    

I spent a few nights in the Cape Region,   touring around the very clean and charming  city of Capetown.   We really learned a lot and got a real feel for the apartheid era while visiting Robben Island and the prison where Nelson Mandela spent many years.    We also got to take a boat out to a seal colony and went to a beach with penquins!

Moving onwards I spent a few more nights  in the country side enjoying the winelands, and driving the lovely garden route and coastal drive!  Here I got to  spend a few minutes petting a cheetah, at a lovely cheetah outreach program.

Did I mention the wine??   We had the wonderful opportunity for 3 separate wine tastings and each was lovely.  I especially enjoyed the wine and chocolate pairing!

A quick afternoon tour/evening  in Johannesburg gave me the highlights and showed the noticeable difference between the different areas of South Africa.

Now for the fun stuff!   Three nights at the Thornybush private game reserve!Six game drives, 3 meals/per day, and lovely accommodations made for a perfect experience.       The benefit of a private game lodge is that you are able to go "off roading" with your driver and tracker to really get up close and personal with the animals.   I was very happy to see "The Big Five" very quickly!

South Africa is one of my favorite holidays so far.  It has something for everyone, perfect for honeymooners and  a great place to take your family!

 What an experience!  We spent 3 nights land and 6 nights on a deluxe small group yacht, cruising the Dalmation coast.  We had stops in Trogir, Split, Hvar, Dubrovnik, Brac, Markarska, and so many other interesting places.

This is a beautiful country with something unique at each turn.   It is impossible to pick a favorite, but I have to say I was really amazed by the waterfalls in Plitvice National park...it was breathtaking!

The country is filled with ancient rich history, and modern transportation for the perfect mix of old and new.     The coast line is stunning, the people were gracious, and I would definitely return.

This is of course a great location for fans of the "Game of Thrones" series, as much of the show was filmed in Croatia.

If you are looking for an new exciting stamp in your passport, put Croatia on the list!

It has been a few years since I have walked on this beautiful beach and was very happy to finally be returning!

I spent 4 lovely nights at the Barceló Bavaro Beach (adults only) resort with access to the Barceló Bavaro Palace resort right next door.    This is a lovely, yet large complex with something for everyone.   The restaurant options were very good with lots of variety,  the resort is laid out to make getting around very easy, the pools were large and very clean,  the rooms in the Beach section are older but were spotless.  I especially enjoyed the adults only pool over at the Palace section.  

Then I moved over to the Majestic Colonial Resort in the adults only section for 3 more nights and I have to say WOW.  This resort was impressive.  The gardens are lush and inviting, the pools are clean and inviting.   The food was very good, the service was excellent, and I really enjoyed the beach waitress service and bally beds in the adults only club.   I would not hesitate to recommend either the Majestic Colonial or the Majestic Elegance to anyone.  

What an exciting city!   Museums, skyscrapers, restaurants, theatre,  NYC has something for everyone! 

 I stayed right in the heart of the excitement at the Holiday Inn Times Square, which is a lovely new hotel that had everything I needed to get rested up for days of exploring the city.

I would definitely recommend the 911 tribute center to show your respects to those lost in the twin towers, and to see the new construction and healing that is taking place in that area of Manhatten.

Looking for an entertaining evening?  There are lots of great shows to take in.  We had a great time at Jersey Boys!

Want a view of the city?  Head to "the top of the rock" after sunset to see the skyline at night.   It really was spectacular! 

If you have a few days off and want to do something fun, then give us a call and we would be happy to talk to you about your options in The Big Apple!

Have you ever dreamed of staying in a castle?  Earn the "gift of gab" by kissing the Blarney stone?  Perhaps you are a lover of whiskey and want to tour a distillery?  Let's not forget the famous Guinness Storehouse!  How about checking out the impressive Titantic Museum in Northern Ireland, or the Giants Causeway? If you have not been to Ireland,  you need to put it on your bucket list right away. This is an incredible country with possibly the nicest people in the world. There are many ways to comfortably visit the Emerald Isle,  from a coach tour, to a cruise stop, to just renting a car or taking the train and getting "lost" on your own.   Which ever option you choose you will not be disappointed! I highly suggest making the time to explore both Ireland and Northern Ireland to get the entire picture. 

Have you ever dreamed of staying in a castle?  Earn the "gift of gab" by kissing the Blarney stone?  Perhaps you are a lover of whiskey and want to tour a distillery?  Let's not forget the famous Guinness Storehouse!  How about checking out the impressive Titantic Museum in Northern Ireland, or the Giants Causeway? If you have not been to Ireland,  you need to put it on your bucket list right away. This is an incredible country with possibly the nicest people in the world. There are many ways to comfortably visit the Emerald Isle,  from a coach tour, to a cruise stop, to just renting a car or taking the train and getting "lost" on your own.   Which ever option you choose you will not be disappointed! I highly suggest making the time to explore both Ireland and Northern Ireland to get the entire picture. 

I had the pleasure of spending 2 wonderful nights at this resort, and I have to say I was very impressed.   The quality of the rooms, service, food, and overall atmosphere of the resort was lovely.    This resort offers the best of both worlds,  upgrade yourself to the preferred club and experience a tranquil zen like experience and still have access to the main resort, where all the activities are taking place! I was particularly impressed with the evening entertainment at this resort.  It offers a maturity and elegance that I very much enjoyed.  Rather than the typical all inclusive "show" they brought in a very talented singer that performed under the stars in a beautiful setting.  They also had a steel band evening which really made you feel like you were in Jamaica! If you are looking for a very good quality 5* adults only resort, then I would love to talk to you about Secrets Wild Orchid!

I spent 2 lovely nights at this resort and was quite impressed. The room is modern and colorful, with a  soaker/jetted tub, a large walk in shower and double vanities.   The wifi was complimentary and worked perfectly, the drinks were great, and the restaurant options were varied.   The buffet had something for everyone, including the all important jerk chicken. This is a small adults only resort, with access to the much large Riu Montego Bay next door. The pools (there are 2) are smaller, but adequate for the number of guests at the room, and there is a swim up pool bar.    I particularly liked the chaise lounge  chairs that are built right into the pool. The beach is pretty small, but it is nice, with a good deal of natural shade, and don't forget you can use the beach next door at the larger Riu Montego Bay.  Overall, the beach at both resorts are acceptable, but there is some rocky spots and not long enough for beach walkers. I would absolutely recommend this resort to someone who is looking for a modern look, smaller adults only resort, with access to a larger family friendly resort next door.

Ohhh how I love Sandals resorts!  Padded pool chairs, top shelf alcohol, great food, great service, and so many inclusions! This was a wonderful resort, small and compact.  I really enjoyed that the pool and the beach are very close to each other. It is a fun active resort, with just enough romance for those couples who are looking for this.  Why not sit with your partner and enjoy the fire pits down by the beach,  or perhaps enjoy the saxaphone player up by the pool deck?   Looking to change your scenery?  This resort has a private island (about a 5 minute boat ride away) where you can enjoy additional facilities. This resort has something for couples of all ages and lifestyles!

Wow!  This was absolutely a trip of a lifetime.   India was everything I expected it to be and nothing I expected it to be, all wrapped up with friendly smiles! India is an exotic destination, with a huge amount of cultural influence.   I loved hearing the stories of past and present, and learning of the Hindu religion. I didn't want to close my eyes for one minute, as there was so much to see.  Every turn had a new surprise. Not necessarily a trip for everyone, but if you have an adventurous spirit, love to experience  new things and  have an open mind, then India is guaranteed to impress! Our visit to the Taj Mahal was definately the highlight for me, and I have learned that I actually really enjoy Indian food!

Sandals Grande Antigua is a wonderful resort, only minutes from the airport.   It is on a lovely stretch of beach on Dickinson Bay and has 2 villages. There is the original Caribbean Grove (quaint, lush, garden style resort) and the new Meditteranean Village (modern, tower style building). The resort boasts a number of pools, and 2 swim up bars.  The restaurants are lovely (Eleanors was by far my favorite) and the staff were fantastic. This was my first experience using Sandals butler service, and I have to say...this is the way to go!    There is something to be said about having someone get up early in the morning and reserve your favorite chair by the beach or the pool...let's not forget that they provide you with a cooler stocked with your favorite beverages!   Are you feeling a bit "peckish" mid afternoon and looking for snack,  to "relaxed" to get off your chair and move to the restaurant? Why not call the butler and have him/her bring your lunch right to you!  Forgot your book in your room?  Call the butler.  Want to make dinner reservations? Call the butler.  Feel like going on a tour for the day?  Call the butler.   I absolutely hope to return to Sandals Grande Antigua one day in the future!

1 day Seaworld, 1 day Islands of Adventure, 1 day Busch Gardens and 1 day Disney's Magic Kingdom, plus a little bit of shopping and this ended up being  a busy week in Orlando but we got to enjoy a lot of wonderful experiences.   Did you know that you can feed the dolphins at Seaworld, or feed the giraffes at Busch gardens?   Have you ever seen Disney's electrical parade and fireworks..it's amazing! Not a theme park person?  Why not try a hot air balloon ride, or an airboat ride through gator country!  How about a day lounging by the pool? Florida has  many different types of accomodation styles.   We enjoyed our time at Encantada town homes in Kissimmee, but also visited a number of other communities from your normal hotel style units, to condos, to townhouses and stand alone homes with private back yard pools.   Without doubt, Florida has something for everyone!

 Located in the middle of the Pacific ocean, a 9 hour flight from Los Angeles, you will find the islands of French Polynesia.   This just might be Heaven on earth! I was unbelievably lucky to be able to participate in an educational trip to the French Polynesian islands of Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora. This is a place to be in love, to find one's self, and to completely get away from the stress of daily life.   The islands are lush in vegetation, the beaches are wonderful, and the waters are a color of blue I don't think I have ever seen before. There are lots of tours that you can participate in, from jeep safaris, to swimming with sharks and stingrays (I got to do both!).  Or perhaps you would rather a day being pampered in the spa? The quality of the resorts is true 5*, and everyone should have the chance to sleep in an over the water bungalow at some point in their life.  The experience of feeding the fish from the glass coffee table, or just snorkling in the waters right outside my balcony door (just a ladder from my balcony directly into the lagoon) was amazing. It is " French Polynesia" and you can definately feel the French influence everywhere you go...especially in the food....it was top notch! It would be my dream to return to this destination in the future!

The Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda was a pleasant surprise to me.  It is a semi-large resort, but once you know the proper path to walk on, it really only takes 3-4 minutes to get from the beach to the lobby area and it is a beautiful walk.  The shuttle/golf cart is very efficient to get around the resort if you are not able to do the walk. The food was above average, and the staff were some of the friendliest I have seen in years. A nice feature was the beach waitress that made sure our drink glasses were never empty. This resort is only a few minutes from the exciting town of Playa Del Carmen and they offer shuttle service a few times per day for $5 USD per person. Taxi service is also available for approximately $20.00/USD/car. The beach at this resort, has suffered from some "surf/hurricane" damage and the water can be murky /churned up.   Some days were definately better than others depending on the currents.   However the sand is white and very soft.   I spent most of my week sunbathing on the beach and swimming in the pool (which is only steps away) Overall this is a great 4* resort for all ages.  If you are looking for overall quality on a budget this is an excellent choice.

Collette Vacations motorcoach tour of Israel. A journey to the Holy Land.    We made our way through most of Israel with a very informative guide who made sure we saw all the points of interest first thing in the morning before the crowds arrived. We visited Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Caesarea, Tiberias, Sea of Gallilee, Jerusalem, the wailing wall, and the church of the Holy Seplechure, the Golan Heights, Acre, Bet Sh'an Nazerath, Bethleham and the church of the Nativity, Masada (Unesco World Heritage site), the Dead Sea & Qumram (where the dead sea scrolls were discovered). It is a facinating country with a melding of many different religious/cultures.  I could have spent days walking the streets of Jerusalem and enjoying the beach in Tel Aviv. My trip to Isreal was a dream come true for me, and I am grateful for the opportunity.    The was just soooo much to see!  :-)

Staff, Staff, Staff...this is the number 1 thing Sandals and Beaches gets right at their resorts....They have the best possible staff! This is a charming resort, that is devoted to the entertainment of children and families.  They work with the Seseme Street Brand and it is great fun to see Big Bird and all the characters at the resort entertaining the children. The beach in front of this resort is absolutely lovely and the ocean is perfect for the littles ones, because it is very shallow water. This resort also has a great water park, with water slides, fountains and a lazy river. There is also the XBOX 360 room where kids can test out games before they are even released to the public! Overall a wonderful getaway for all ages.