Jerod + Michelle: Playa del Carmen Honeymoon

Jerod and Michelle honeymooned at The Royal Playa del Carmen and had a wonderful time. The Royal is in the heart of Playa del Carmen - the center of the Riviera Maya. It's adults-only and all-inclusive. Hear what Michelle had to say after they returned:

Sarah,

I just wanted to say thank you for putting our trip together. It was amazing! We had the best time and we didn't have any problems. It was just easy and relaxing and we loved every minute of it! The resort was beautiful and we had so much fun shopping on 5th ave. We are already talking about trying to go back for our one year! Thanks again!

Michelle Hicks

Happy Holidays from Destinations!

photo courtesy of Lisa Townsend Photography

Wishing you a Joyous Holiday Season
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your business as a valued Destinations client. We wish you every happiness this holiday season and look forward to serving you in the New Year.

Awards. Travel. Give Memories.
We are honored to be named the Best Local Travel Agency by CitiScapes readers for the 3rd year in a row. Thank you!

This Fall we had several opportunities to travel. We cruised on the newest and biggest ship to hit waters, Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas. We traveled to Mexico's Riviera Maya to accept a prestigious award with El Dorado and AZUL Hotels. And just last weekend, Tracee traveled to Jamaica to attend Sandals' STAR Awards. We are blessed to have these wonderful opportunities that allow us to offer you the best in vacation planning.

Give those near and dear to your heart something they'll treasure forever. The gift of travel offers memories that last a lifetime. Destinations offers custom gift certificates wrapped up with a bow this holiday season and all year long.


Click here to see our Holiday Newsletter.

Voted Best Local Travel Agency by CitiScapes Readers

Thank you Northwest Arkansas for voting us the Best Local Travel Agency for the third consecutive year! We love planning your vacations and are honored to be the best! Check out the December issue of CitiScapes.

Karisma Awards: Riviera Maya, Mexico

Last weekend we traveled to Mexico for the Karisma Awards. Karisma Hotels and Resorts are located in the Riviera Maya of Mexico and include El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Casitas Royale, El Dorado Seaside Suites, El Dorado Maroma, AZUL Beach Hotel, AZUL Sensatori Hotel and AZUL Fives Hotel. The El Dorado brand caters to adults only, while AZUL is for everyone.

We were honored to be awarded the One Diamond Producer Award based on our sales. Karisma Resorts is an industry leader in the all inclusive market, but they go beyond the traditional all inclusive resort with their Gourmet Inclusive concept. From beach butlers and concierge, to turn-down service, 24-hour room service, premium beverages and Gourmet cuisine, the Gourmet Inclusive concept is all-encompassing to provide an outstanding experience for the refined traveler.

Tracee accepting our award

Enjoying the Gala

Mandy Chomat, VP of Sales & Marketing
Premier Worldwide Marketing, LLC

 

Ken Pomerantz, President of MLT Vacations

Karisma's list of awards is far-reaching and impressive including: Conde Nast Traveler’s “Top 100 Hotels in the World,” Conde Nast Traveler’s “Gold List,” Forbes’ “Top 10 Most Romantic Hotels,” TUI Travel PLC’s “Hotel of the Year,” AAA’s “Four Diamond Award” and Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence.”

While in Mexico we took advantage of our time and toured several hotels {that’s how we are able to serve you best}. We stayed at El Dorado Royale in a Jacuzzi Jr Suite Oceanfront. We had the privilege to visit AZUL Sensatori Hotel to check in on things as well as AZUL Beach Hotel – a chic boutique family hotel that is undergoing many upgrades including 3 new restaurants and the expansion of 50 new rooms including swim-ups. {All is scheduled to be done by Summer 2011.}

AZUL Sensatori

AZUL Sensatori Honeymoon Suite

AZUL Sensatori Sky Wedding

AZUL Beach Wedding setup

AZUL Beach, new rooms featuring swim up access

AZUL Beach, a quiet nook overlooking the ocean

AZUL Beach Azulitos Kids Program including Fisher Price

We also took the opportunity to drive North and visit 2 outstanding resorts in Cancun and 1 resort in Playa Mujeres, Mexico’s best kept secret. Hotel reviews coming soon!

Thank you to all of our clients who have visited the El Dorado and AZUL Hotels. You have made it possible for us to succeed. Thank you also to Karisma Hotels for being a wonderful partner. We appreciate your support.

Allure of the Seas: A Sneak Peek

Last weekend Tracee and I had the privilege to sail on a Pre-Inaugural Cruise to Nowhere on Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Allure of the Seas. {You may be asking, what’s a cruise to nowhere? Well, it’s a 2 day quick sail out to sea and back, stopping nowhere.} She is brand new and let me tell you, she is the definition of fabulous. She will take her first passenger sailing in December, but we got a sneak peek at all she has to offer.

Sarah and Tracee at On-Air

With endorsements from Oprah, The Today Show with Hoda and Kathie Lee, as well as the filming of Jack and Jill, Allure of the Seas is all the talk. Allure of the Seas made Oprah’s Ultimate Favorite Things 2010 list. On her show Friday, Oprah named Allure of the Seas as her favorite cruise and gave everyone in the audience a free cruise. Friday morning, The Today Show with Hoda and Kathie Lee was filmed live onboard Allure of the Seas. Tracee was lucky enough to get a photo with Hoda. Tracee reported that Hoda was a lovely and gracious woman. The film, Jack and Jill is currently being filmed on the Allure as well. Katie Holmes and Adam Sandler co-star in this holiday movie that will hit theaters next Fall. Suri was onboard with her mom, and we spotted them on the Boardwalk one afternoon.


Tracee with Hoda from The Today Show



Katie Holmes and Suri on the Boardwalk

So just what does the Allure of the Seas have to offer? Everything! It is the largest cruise ship in the world offering you the most at sea. During our 48 hour whirlwind experience on Allure of the Seas we were wowed by everything. Our Superior Ocean View Stateroom was well appointed and our balcony offered breathtaking views! We saw a beautiful sunset on the last night.

Our Stateroom

Our Balcony

iPod docking station to charge and play

Sunset from our balcony. Miami in the background.

We strolled through Central Park and heard birds chirping during the day. With gorgeous live plants, it was tranquil and inviting. At night we listened to crickets and heard live musicians singing in the park while we shopped and enjoyed the crisp evening air. We watched a DreamWorks parade, had gourmet cupcakes, and shopped till we dropped on the Royal Promenade. On the Boardwalk we enjoyed hot dogs from the Boardwalk Dog House (featuring Coney Island, German, Sicilian dogs, and more), a cool treat from the Ice Cream Parlor, great shopping in the Star Pier, delicious Mexican fare at Rita’s Cantina, and a sneak peek of Oceanaria at the AquaTheater. In the Amber Theater we were entertained by CHICAGO: The Musical. We laughed at the Comedy Club. And finally, we enjoyed a little down time in the Solarium, a haven for rest and relaxtion.

Starbucks on the Royal Promenade

The Cupcake Cupboard on the Royal Promenade

Chops Grill in Central Park

The Solarium

Entertainment

Allure of the Seas offers hit Broadway shows complimentary with your cruise. They also have unique productions with awesome sets, songs, and dancing to entertain you. In addition they have a Comedy Club, Live Jazz Club, Ice Skating Show and AquaTheater for your nightly entertainment.

We got to see the premier of Chicago, the musical. It was amazing, and the actors were fabulous. Such talent. Blue Planet is also another cool show onboard Allure of the Seas. It is an aerial acrobatic show from Royal Caribbean Productions. Oceanaria, an AquaTheater show, is simply stunning. We got to see a sneak peek of this water show combining gymnastics and diving. There are some US Olympic divers and swimmers that perform in Oceanaria.

The AquaTheater

Oceanaria in the AquaTheater

The DreamWorks Experience

Find your favorite characters onboard Allure of the Seas. DreamWorks Animation has partnered with Royal Caribbean to bring characters from Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and more, onboard Allure of the Seas. With live shows, 3D movies and parades through the Royal Promenade your kids will love seeing their favorite characters. There is an Ice Show to “How to Train Your Dragon”.


DreamWorks Animation - Shrek

Dining

There is no shortage of delicious dining options. With over 20 dining choices you can experience it all. Pizzerias, Cafes, Italian Cuisine, Specialty Steak House, Wine and Tapas, Burgers and Shakes, Hot Dogs, Mexican Fare, Donuts, Ice Cream, Cupcakes, Brazilian Steakhouse, Asian, Buffet, Healthy Snacks, Room Service and more can all be found onboard Allure of the Seas.

Shopping

In Central Park you will find Romero Britto’s signature artwork displayed and on sale in the Britto Art Gallery. Also, there is a Coach store. On the Royal Promenade there is a Guess Accessories Boutique, Prince + Green (apparel and accessories by Betsey Johnson, Calypso, Kenneth Cole, Ed Hardy and Marc Jacobs), Regalia (fine jewelry), Solera (beauty and perfume), Willow (unique apparel and gifts), and The Shop (featuring Royal Caribbean memorabilia). On the Boardwalk, Star Pier has trendy teen clothing and accessories by Roxy, Quicksilver, and Lucky Brand. Also, they have a cute shop for little ones called Pinwheels that is connected to Candy Beach, the ultimate sweets shop.

Allure of the Seas has Destinations' stamp of approval! We can't wait to send you on this amazing ship so you can experience it for yourself! Hurry, we still have limited space on the Spring Break Sailing March 20th. Call us this week! 479-582-1900.
 
For a full album of photos click here and enjoy!

Morgan + Dustin: Sandals Emerald Bay Honeymoon

Morgan and Dustin Roberts just returned from their spectacular honeymoon at Sandals Emerald Bay in the Great Exumas, Bahamas.  Here is what Morgan had to say:

Sandals Emerald Bay was absolutely amazing! We've never experienced a beach vacation like it before. The water was an unbelievable turquoise blue. Our butler Raj met us in the lobby when we arrived and offered us a glass of champagne and a cool towel. He showed us to our room which had a perfect view of the white sand beach. We enjoyed taking advantage of all the water sports offered by the resort. We went kayaking, rode a water trike, and went snorkeling. The food at the resort was great. We both tried many new things including chilean sea bass, conch fritters, caviar, and lamb chops. The highlight of our trip was the 007 Thunderball Tour offered by Island Routes. We rode a 35ft speed boat through many of the small islands of the Exuma Cays stopping to snorkel in the Thunderball Grotto, feed iguanas, swim with nurse sharks, and visit the swimming pigs. It was incredible! We would definitely recommend the tour to anyone that visits the resort. Overall this was the best vacation either of us have ever taken. It was exactly what we needed after the stress of planning a wedding.

Welcome Home Mr. and Mrs. Dustin Roberts, and congrats on your recent marriage.

Destination Wedding: Dr. & Mrs. Cauchi

Tony and Angie had a perfect Destination Wedding. They were married on the turquoise shores of Cancun, Mexico at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort on Friday, July 16, 2010. They were surrounded by their loving family and friends who traveled to be with them for their special day. Here are some of the photo highlights from their big bash. Congratulations Dr. and Mrs. Tony Cauchi!

The Beautiful Bride and Groom

The Wedding Party in their shades

They had an authentic Mariachi Band play during their ceremony

The Bride and Groom with family and friends who traveled to the wedding

Dr. and Mrs. Cauchi

Christina + Paul go to Secrets Silversands

Christina and Paul

Secrets Silversands

Enjoying breakfast poolside

Christina and Paul celebrated their 4th Anniversary at Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun in Mexico. This adults-only, lavish all-inclusive was perfect for them. Here is what they had to say about their experience...

We absolutely loved Secrets Silversands - Riviera Cancun! From the minute we were picked up from the airport, we were taken care of completely by the excellent staff. We found a "Happy Anniversary" sign on our door to greet us, and received fresh flowers and champagne to celebrate the occasion as well. Most of our time was spent lounging on the beach, where drinks were brought to us continuously by the wonderful staff, but we would also visit one of the eight beautiful pools often as well. My husband enjoyed sailing on the Hobie Cat sailboats, but I preferred relaxing on the beach. The restaurants were incredible, and we enjoyed some of the best food we've ever eaten. After dinner, there was always nightly entertainment, and it was different each night. The staff was great about recommending things to do outside of the resort as well. We ended up doing the Canopy Tour with Selvatica, which includes ziplining through the jungle and then into a beautiful cenote. This was one of my favorite things from our vacation. We met a lot of people and just had an absolute blast. We would definitely recommend this resort to anybody!

Michelle + Dusty Relax at Sandals Whitehouse

Sunset on the Southern Coast of Jamaica

Zip-lining in the Jungle

Sandals Whitehouse

Michelle and Dusty vacationed in Jamaica and stayed on the beautiful, untouched Southern Coast at Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa. The resort is set on a 500 acre nature reserve secluded in a small fishing village. It is a perfect resort to escape from it all. Michelle sent an email about their experience, so I'll let her tell you about their vacation.

First - thank you for all of your help with rescheduling our vacation. It was such a difficult time for us and all we had to do was send one quick email and you took care of moving the vacation for us. Thanks!! Second - thank you so much for recommending Sandals Whitehouse Jamaica! It was fabulous and definitely lived up to our expectations! Our flight times were perfect and we didn't have to worry about any arrangements!


Sandals Whitehouse was absolutely beautiful. The staff was so incredibly friendly and helpful. The beach and pools were great, we never had any issue finding a spot to lay back and relax! We also took advantage of some of the water activities offered at the resort. We loved the glass bottom boat tour and the Hobie Cat was quite an interesting experience. The restaurant choices offered a great variety and the food was all delicious! Our room was beautiful and the balcony view was gorgeous! We are so glad you recommended Sandals Whitehouse! Thank you!

While we were there, we also went to YS Falls. Loved it!! Dusty and I zip-lined and the guides were great, they made us feel completely safe while we were zip-lining. We also were able to swim in the falls and those guides were amazing as well. They helped us walk through the falls and also took great pictures of us swimming in the falls.

Our vacation was wonderful, Dusty and I were able to sit back and relax and not worry about anything! Thank you again, for all of your help and for the great vacation!

Lindsey + Ricky Vacation to Cozumel

Lindsey and Ricky took their Summer vacation to Cozumel Palace in Cozumel, Mexico. They had an excellent time at their resort and used their complimentary Vacation Dollars on massages, a manicure, swimming with the dolphins and snorkeling. They loved the hotel, thought the staff was awesome and food was great. There were so many activities to do, they never had to entertain themselves. Next time the kids get to go.

Max + Nicole Anniversary in Italy

Trevi Fountain in Rome

Overlooking Florence

Tracee,
We just wanted to thank you so very much for making our 2nd anniversary trip to Italy so special! The hotels you booked were in such great locations, we couldn't have asked for better. The times of the flight and trains worked out great. Thanks for being there to answer all our questions before leaving and all the personal touches you added to really make this a trip to unforgettable! -Nicole & Max

Gladiator for a day

One of our preferred travel vendors published a great article we felt was blogworthy. As the saying goes...When in Rome, do as the Romans do - or at least as ancient Romans did. That's the concept behind the GSR Gladiator School in Rome, where for a small fee, adventure travelers can get the full experience of what it was like to be a gladiator in the Colosseum. Learning the techniques of Roman swordfighters is sure to be an European vacation that travelers won't soon forget.

The informal two-hour course allows visitors to don gladiator garb and see some of the weapons that Romans would have used in battle, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. There's even a tournament using foam bats, and all those who complete the course get a certificate in Latin celebrating their accomplishment.

Then visitors can head to the actual Colosseum to get a sense of what it would have been like to be in front of a massive crowd of spectators and facing down deadly foes. Learning about the history of gladiatorial combat is sure to satisfy even the most hardened adrenaline junkies.

And it's the perfect time to learn about gladiators, as the Colosseum is featuring an exhibit dedicated to the warriors that runs through October.

Article taken from Travel Impressions. Pictures taken from internet.

Ashley + Aaron Honeymoon at Secrets Wild Orchid

KNWA News Reporter, Aaron Nolan, and his wife Ashley Ketz, 5News Anchor, honeymooned in beautiful Montego Bay, Jamaica and stayed at the new Secrets Wild Orchid - a luxurious adults-only, all-inclusive resort. They stayed in the Preferred Club Oceanview Suite. They had the "best week of their lives." Here are a few highlights from their stay!

Mr. and Mrs. Nolan

Sunset at the resort

Ashley ziplining in the jungle

Thanks for letting Destinations plan your Honeymoon! It was a pleasure serving you two. Best Wishes!