Our Tropical Travel Blog

  • Sandals Destination Wedding Specialist

    Sand & Sun Vacations is proud to announce that Jennifer Prymula and David Prymula completed extensive Sandals Destination Wedding Training April 7-12, 2008 in Jamaica.

    They are two out of 21 travel agents from the USA that have completed the training. Visiting all 12 of the Sandals, Beaches and Royal Plantation properties they observed first hand the upgrades and changes . They also toured the wedding locations, met with Sandals Wedding Coordinators, sampled food at mock recepetions and enjoyed entertainment that brides & grooms could hire for their Sandals Destination wedding ceremonies or receptions. The entertainment included a steel drum band withdancers, guitarist & saxophonist.

    The resorts visited include;

    Sandals Whitehouse

    Sandals Negril

    Negril Gardens- soon to be Negril Grand Pineapple

    Beaches Negril

    Beaches Sanday Bay

    Sandals Montego Bay

    Sandals Royal Caribbean

     Sandals Inn

    Sandals Dunns River Villagio

    Sandals Grande Ocho Rios

    Royal Plantation

    Beaches Boscabel.

     

    While visiting the properties they took over 750 photo's! 

    Jennifer & David also complted 5 hours of classroom training that focused on Sandals Destination Weddings including the islands of St. Lucia, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos,  Sandals photography and Preston Bailey Wedding Packages.

     

    Please feel free to contact us for your Sandals Destination Wedding!

     

     

     

     

  • Four Dys In Paradise- Ocho Rios, Jamaica

     Four Days In Paradise!

     

    As a travel agent I make a point of visiting several destinations each year to see first hand the newest attractions, how the hotels and resorts are doing and meet with the managers and sales staff.

     

    This May I was a guest of Japex and the Jamaica Tourism Board and I had the privilege of spending 4 days in Ocho Rios.

     

    Day one – Flight from Chicago O’Hare. We had a plane change from Air Jamaica to Ryan Air. The attendants were gracious and attentive, the flight uneventful and quick as we were able to watch a movie on the way down. Arrival in Montego Bay was smooth as was going through customs. Retrieving our bags was extremely quick and I was impressed with the new terminal. It was air conditioned, bright and airy.

     

    The trip to Ocho Rios normally takes about an hour an a half but it seemed to fly by. Our first visit was to the beautiful Grand Lido Braco. The atmosphere was laid back understated elegance. A beautiful courtyard greets visitors with a fountain and shops – on the left as you face the ocean is the nude side and on the right is the prude side. Both are tucked away in lavish gardens. We had the privilege of having a buffet lunch and the selection was abundant, fresh and quite tasty. The staff we encountered while doing our inspection were extremely friendly and warm. This is a fantastic resort for those that enjoy the finer things in life in a casual Caribbean atmosphere. A smaller intimate adult only resort (210 suites) this is a great place for meeting other couples and personalized service.  One of the few resorts that includes waterskiing. There were some incredible spots from which to have a destination wedding.

     

    We then checked into Shaw Park Resort. This is a great little place for those who are not fussy and want a quiet place to lie on the beach. The open air lobby is very Caribbean with turning palm frond fans and one of the friendliest staffs on the island. My roommates and I were placed in the two bedroom oceanfront Suite. Breathtaking floor to ceiling view of the beach and ocean that were literally just steps from our terrace. The suite was large and comfortably appointed. Breakfast was fresh and sufficient with both selections of Americanized and Jamaican breakfast items. My only complaint with this resort would be the water pressure and warmth in the shower although my roommates in the second bedroom did not have this issue at all. The bathrooms are in need of some updating. This is also a small resort -94 rooms.

     

    In the evening after freshening up and unpacking my fellow travel agents and I met at the beach bar at Shaw Park Resort. Ahhh paradise- a pina colada at sunset on the beach. Have I mentioned how much I love my job?

     

    On to dinner at The Ruins. What an amazing restaurant! While I was not able to sample any of their food (we had a buffet provided by several of the resorts on the island) the restaurant itself was amazing. Built around a waterfall and trees you are literally eating under the stars! The strands of lights throughout the trees, the foot bridge and sound of the water running down the falls and through the restaurant set the most alluring atmosphere!

     

    Day two in Paradise!

    8:30am the tour bus pulls out of Shaw Park. We are on our way to visit 4 resorts this morning.

     

    Chrissanns – small beachfront hotel, mostly Jamaican clientele that operates as a timeshare. Each unit is individually owned and rented out. I was impressed with the unit owned by a Jamaican Ambassador.

     

    Royal Plantation- If you are looking to be pampered, relaxed and catered too in an adult only, upscale and absolutely stunning location- this is the resort for you. Our gracious guide said it best, “As long as it is not illegal nor immoral we will provide whatever a guest desires.” The rooms all come with a fabulous view of the ocean, were spacious and exquisitely decorated in an understated elegance complete with a pillow menu. There are two beaches, one has beach butlers that will cater to your needs-from retrieving your beverages to spritzing you with a cooling lavender water- all you need to do is raise your flag. Perfect for that quiet elegant beach wedding. There is also a 3 bedroom villa onsite that can be rented for private groups or weddings.

     

    Riu Ocho Rios – This resort is sprawling and very active! The perfect resort for larger or mixed age groups or people who like to have lots of choices right at their fingertips. The rooms are spacious and nicely appointed. A huge beach front and several pools. Staff here was friendly as we toured. The in room mini bar and liquor disperser is extremely popular with guests.

     

    Sunset Jamaican Grande – A newly added water slide makes this the perfect getaway for families! We were not able to see any rooms as they were booked solid but the grounds were nicely kept. The entire resort was recently renovated and all of the guests I observed from the very young to the old appeared quite content. This is a very active resort and includes a kids club for those from 2-12years old. It was neat to see the cruise ships docked in Ocho Rios; this resort is a short walk from shopping and nightlife in town. Two areas to get married – a gazebo right on a point on the water and another gazebo just off the beach. Both made for great photos!

     

    Lunch at Walkers Wood- delicious! I would like to come back and do the complete tour when I have more time. We had the privilege of meeting with Old mother Thyme and learning about the history and how the Jamaicans lived and cooked in the past with a quick demonstration of the tools used. The tour of the garden and explanation of what each plant did was eye opening and educational. I really enjoyed seeing how their jerk sauce is made. Great little gift shop onsite to purchase their seasonings. Can also purchase online at www.walkerswood.com

     

    On to the Catamaran Cruise! We left from Sunset Jamaica Grande and sailed past Dunn’s River Falls. The falls looked beautiful as we sailed past. Great reggae music but it really started to get lively on the way back! Personally I think they wait till the Rum punch has a chance to kick in! Starting with a dance move demonstration by the staff we ended the cruise with most of us up dancing and singing!

     

    We ended the evening with the Grand opening of Harley Davidson Ocho Rios at Island Village. A great little shopping area where you’ll be able to find most any tourist item you desire!

     

    Day 3 In Paradise-

    Are you tired yet? Well I was! It’s rough walking through these beautiful resorts watching others play in the pool, with their cool drinks and looking at those incredible beaches! It was all I could do to not take off my heels and dig my toes into the warm sand.

     

    This morning we visited Emerald Seas Villa- This is where my camera batteries decided to die. And what bad timing for my batteries to go caput. The Villa was breathtaking. Very open and elegant, potted plants throughout created a feeling of being in garden and openness. Four bedrooms each with their own private balcony and private bath, two located on each side of the villa. A curving marble staircase to the downstairs. Large French doors lead to the outside terrace and your private in ground pool. The large balcony upstairs would be an incredible setting for a small intimate wedding. I could just picture a bride and groom saying their vows while looking over the gorgeous Caribbean Ocean. I fell in love with this Villa!  The winding stairs leading down to the ocean surrounding by lush foliage would create the most beautiful photos. Comes with a staff of 6. 

     

    Sandals Dunn’s River Falls Villagio- A beautiful drive down a manicured garden with statues is your first impression of what is in store at this adult only all inclusive resort. Designed to look and feel like an Italian resort you are immediately put at ease and start to relax. I was amazed at the artistic touches, artfully designed gardens and statues throughout the resort. This includes the minitiare replica falls located in the pool. The rooms were lovely with an elegant 4 poster king size beds and mahogany furniture.

     

    Hedonism III - What can I say ?  This resort has a nude side, prude side and also a mixed nudity pool area. Great for couples where one partner is comfortable in being one with nature and the other prefers to stay partially dressed! We were treated to lunch and the food was delicious- some of the best we had! Service outstanding.


    Green Grotto Cave- Quite honestly if it wasn’t on the itinerary I probably would have passed. It’s a shame too because I would have missed out on a great experience. Our guide was a knowledgeable and charming young man! We learned about Jamaican history, a bit about the islands ecosystem and also geology. The tour was inside and outside of the caves. The fig trees with their roots searching for water reminded me of the banyan tree in Maui.

     

    Our last night was spent at the new Gran Bahia Ocho Rios. A beautiful hotel with very nice large rooms. This is an all inclusive resort that caters to all age groups. Our balcony was the largest I’ve ever seen and our ocean view was beautiful. The buffet was decent and food was plentiful for dinner but I spoke with guests who said that the selections are the same nightly. To alleviate the repetitiveness there are a la carte restaurants to book for dinner. There was some construction still going on and communication issues amongst staff but that is typical for a brand new resort and it usually last for the first year till the kinks are worked out. Entertainment is held at the Caribbean Village. I thought this was a fantastic concept – an outdoor piazzo with bistro tables and surrounded by shops it provides under the stairs nightly entertainment while keeping the noise contained away from the rooms. A note of caution is in order- there is a beautiful outside marble staircase that goes from the lobby to the pool. It is several stories high but gets extremely slick with any precipitation. I spoke to several guests who slipped down the stairs and also a few of my fellow travel agents who almost tumbled down. Please be careful here especially with youngsters and elderly. This is a tragedy waiting to happen.

     

    Day Four In Paradise-

     

    I woke at 7am, donned my swimsuit and laid on the beach-finally! The beach looked beautiful from afar but you will definitely need water shoes as it is very gravelly and rough, even into the water. No digging your toes into the sand here! Bring sturdy shoes for those long moonlit walks along the beach. After an hour or so I moved to the pool to cool off as I didn’t bring water shoes. Pools were very nice, although shallow at 4’ deep. The pool bar opens at 10am and not a second sooner as my room mate just needed a cup of ice and staff said no. Sadly we left at noon to make our ay back to the airport.

     

    Customs was again a breeze and we had some free time before our flight to visit the many shops. This is a great place to pick up last minute souvenirs, some Blue Mountain coffee and grab a bite to eat at Margarittaville. I found the prices to be comparable to the other areas we visited (just slightly higher) and quite a variety of shops.

     

    So what was my favorite part about Ocho Rios? The people! Although I speak to many clients who are nervous about going to Jamaica and I have to admit that the first time I visited Montego Bay on a cruise ship I was turned off by the aggressive vendors and vowed to never come back! This was my second trip back since then and I promise you it is a completely different experience staying at a resort. The Jamaicans are one of the warmest groups of individuals I have encountered in my travels. It is a joy to experience their warmth, hospitality, pride and the beauty of their island. 

     

    If you’d like additional information about Jamaica or any of the resorts I visited please email jennifer@sandsunandsavings.com

  • All Inclusive FAQ's

    All-Inclusive Resort Vacations- What’s to Know ?

     

    Jennifer Prymula 

    A Romantic Voyage by Sand, Sun & Savings 

    The buzz word these days is All-Inclusive vacations. This is a wonderful option for honeymoons and destination weddings for a myriad of reasons. An All-Inclusive resort package has several advantages over a typical vacation package.  But exactly what does All-Inclusive mean? Simply put, All-Inclusive is a term used to describe vacation packages where for one price upfront, virtually everything on your trip is paid. This includes airfare, accommodations, food, beverages-including alcohol, entertainment and activities. One of the best features of an All-Inclusive vacation is the ability to know exactly how much your honeymoon will cost before you arrive!

    But what are the pitfalls to booking an All- Inclusive vacation? Misinformation tops the list! Whether it’s from well meaning friends and relatives or from websites that don’t tell the whole story, a couple can arrive at their all inclusive resort to find that many of the items that they assumed would be included- aren’t! The "All" part of the All-Inclusive can vary widely from one resort and supplier to another. Each resort and supplier determines the features included in its packages. Many websites will advertise that a package is All- Inclusive when in actuality the vacation package only includes flights, transfers and accommodations.

    So what can you expect from a typical All-Inclusive package? 

    Accommodations-The location of the room- garden, ocean view or beachfront, size and any special features such as a hot tub, plunge pool or butler service may affect the price. Things to be careful of with booking your room include whether the resort utilizes a towel card system (lost towels can incur hefty charges), a fee for use of the in room safe, resort fee’s and if there is a complimentary mini bar, how often it is stocked and with what beverages for the All- Inclusive price. Some resorts may charge extra for special requests.

    Dining & Entertainment- Most All- Inclusive resorts include meals. Some will have a buffet for all meals and others have several different a la carte restaurants and/or snack bars. The venues usually include Asian, Mexican, Gourmet and Italian. Generally the larger the resort the more options are available for dinning. One other feature to look for is whether your chosen resort allows a la carte dinning at any of their restaurants or if they limit visits according to how many days you are staying or what room category you are booked into. Some All-Inclusive resorts will include room service. Check if it is 24 hours or only during set hours!

    The food quality is usually what will make or break a vacation – if a couple prefers American comfort food and all that is available is fine dining, they may come away from the honeymoon extremely disappointed. Food offerings can vary greatly depending on what nationality the majority of the guests are. If a couple is expecting gourmet or local flavors and the food choices are buffet only or cater to European tastes, disappointment can ensue. Other resorts may only offer gourmet food at a surcharge.

    Bar Service-  All beverages, from soft drinks to adult beverages are usually available free of charge. Some resorts will serve a limited selection of domestic beverages; others may offer premium brands with the package or for an additional cost. Check to see if they offer your favorite beverage or if the resort offers premium or house/local liquors.

    Sports Activities- Most All-Inclusive beach resorts offer non motorized water sports such as windsurfing, kayaking, snorkeling, water trykes and sailing for their guests. Quite often the non motorized watersports offered depends upon the resorts beachfront. If a resort is located in an area that typically has rough water there may be no water sports or often it is red flagged, which means that they will not allow guests to use the equipment. Some resorts require an orientation before they allow you to use the equipment, others have a time  limit. Some even require a cash refundable deposit. Tennis, volleyball and fitness centers are almost always offered and included. Often motorized sports are available for a fee.

    Entertainment – Many All-Inclusive resorts include entertainment. This can range from high energy staff members that organize games during the day and then perform in shows during the evening. Or a more laid back approach such as a solo saxophonist, harpist or guitar player during dinner. Many of the all-inclusive resorts have an onsite disco- admission is usually free and most include drinks. Depending on the destination there are All-Inclusives that have a casino onsite- drinks may or may not be included.

    Weddings— As part of an All-Inclusive package a wedding may be free and include a coordinator, a few photos, flowers, champagne, music and a wedding cake. These packages usually require that you pay the government /administrative fees. Of course you can always upgrade the package to make it more personalized!

    What else should you look for ? The resorts ambience can also make or break a honeymoon or destination wedding. Does the resort cater to families, spring breakers or people within your age group? Is the resort for adults only? Other items that may or may not be included : transportation to or from the resort, local sightseeing or excursions outside of the resorts, internet service or wireless internet, gratuities, use of spa facilities for free or with a surcharge. Spa treatments are usually available for an additional fee. Some will include transportation to their sister properties and use of all facilities including food and beverage. A few resorts may offer excursions outside the resort or greens fees at local golf courses in their package!  

    So with all of these choices what is a honeymooner to do?  Sit down with your fiancee and discuss what each of you envision for your honeymoon, the features that are important to each of you and what isn’t important. Be very thorough with your research of each property you are considering and remember the old adage “You Get What You Pay For”.

    Consider a travel agent that specializes in honeymoons or destination weddings. Generally, using a travel agent will not cost you any more than booking on the internet (and quite often can offer a better value), however you will gain the expertise and knowledge of someone whose profession is to be able to sort the information, avoid common pitfalls and know who the best supplier is for a particular destination. A good travel agent will know the strengths and weaknesses of each All-Inclusive resort either from personal experience or from the training they receive. They will know the amenities available, food quality, what the resorts ambience is and who your fellow guests will be. The travel agent should engage you in a dialogue of your expectations, what amenities and features you & your fiancee want, your budget and then assist in booking your dream honeymoon! Another bonus to using a travel agent is, if something should go wrong, you have a consumer advocate on your side who has a great deal of negotiating power.

    When booking your All-Inclusive honeymoon/destination wedding remember to double check the details of exactly what is included. Do your homework before placing your deposit so you have the vacation of your dreams. 

  • Sandals Resorts Antigua !

     You cannot afford to miss out on this incredible promotion.

     

    Mediterranean Village at Sandals Grande Antigua

     

     

    To help celebrate the all-new Mediterranean Village at Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa, we are pleased to announce clients will receive :

     

     $1,000 “Butch Bucks” !

     

     

         Booking Window:  June 14 –July 14, 2006

     

         Travel Window:       Feb. 1 – Dec. 31, 07

     

         Categories:  All six suite concierge categories

     

                         in the new  Mediterranean Village

     

     

     

     Book a 6 night minimum stay and...

     

     

     

    Receive  a $1,000 Butch Bucks gift certificate valid for  

     

     your next stay at a Sandals or Beaches All Inclusive Resort! 

     

                       Plus receive a $50 spa credit from Sand, Sun & Savings!                      

     

     

     

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