FAM REPORT – SPAIN AND PORTUGAL – 10/4-10/14

DAY 1

Flew from Boston to Lisbon via Madrid on Iberia.  Everything went smoothly. Upon arrival in Lisbon was met by our guide Fernanda and our driver Sergio.  We made our way up to Fatima and visited the Tomb of the Visionaries and had a mass at the Chapel of the Apparitions. We checked into the Santa Maria Hotel in Fatima.  A 2 minute walk to the shrine and right in the town.

Day 2

Today we visited the Parish Chruch where the visionaries were baptized. We had a private mass at the Sanctuary of our Lady.  In the evening we participated in the evening Rosary and candlelight procession with thousands of pilgrims.

Day 3

Today we traveled from Fatima to Madrid. Enroute we stopped in Salamanca for lunch and then Avila a walled city Unesco Site.  We did have a man in the group wander off in Avila and get lost.  Luckily after an hour he was found by the police.  Late arrival in Madrid. We stayed at the Melia Madrid Serrano a very modern and chic hotel in the heart of the city.

Day 4

Today we had a morning orientation tour of Madrid.  We saw all the various squares and statues of Spanish leaders and famous people including Don Quixote.  Then it was time to tour the famous Prado Museum with all its beautiful paintings.  The rest of that day was free and we chose to experience lunch at a traditional Tapas restaurant.  In the evening we found a restaurant specializing in just Paella.  It was fantastic.

Day 5

Today we traveled from Madrid to Burgos. Another walled city.  Upon arrival there we had a tour of the city and of the beautiful Gothic Cathedral.  We also had a private mass in the chapel dedicated to St Mary Major.  Our hotel for the 1 night stay was the Silken Gran Teatro.  A 5 minute walk to the center of the city with the restaurants and shops.

Day 6

Today we traveled from Burgos to Lourdes. On the way we had a scheduled stop at San Ignacio de Loyola. This is the birth place of St Ignasius.  We were able to tour his home and had mass in the Basilica.  We had an unfortunate incident when one of the ladies in the group missed a step outside the church and fell on her face.  She had to be taken to the hospital and was diagnosed with a broken nose. Luckily the delay didn’t cause us a big problem.  We were able to continue on the Lourdes and arrived there in the late afternoon.  Our hotel was the Grand Hotel Gallia & Londres. It is situated right in the heart of Lourdes and a 2 minute walk to the shrine.  That evening in Lourdes we participated in the evening rosary and candlelight procession.

Day 7

Today we had a walking tour that took us to the grotto to see where the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette.  We also saw her birth place and family home.  In the afternoon we had a private mass at Lourdes.  Then free time.  We chose to take a Funicular ride up to the top of one of Pyrenees Mountains that over looks Lourdes. It was spectacular.

Day 8

Today we left Lourdes to head back into Spain. On the way we stopped at Carcassonne , a walled city in France also a Unesco site.  Had free time there for lunch and shopping.  We arrived in Barcelona in the early evening.  Our hotel was the Catalonia Barcelona Plaza Hotel.  Very modern within walking distance to many landmarks and attractions in Barcelona.  That night 12 of us went to a Flamenco Dancing Dinner Show.  It was a wonderful experience.

Day 9

Today we had an orientation tour of Barcelona which included various plazas.  The highlight was the visit to Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia Church.  It is scheduled to be completed in 2026.  It is Magnificent. We also had a private mass in the crypt of the church.  An experience I will never forget. That afternoon we had free time before the farewell dinner.  I took 2 people with me to the Picasso Museum.  A wonderful tribute to his works at every stage of his life. That evening we had a wonderful farewell dinner at a restaurant on the waterfront in Barcelona.

Day 10

Flew back to Boston on Iberia via Madrid got back to Boston in the early afternoon.

FAM REPORT

CLUB MED FAM TO VAL THORENS SENSATIONS

VAL THORENS, FRANCE

DECEMBER 10-15, 2017

This FAM allowed me to take a guest so I traveled with a skier friend, Terry.

We left Boston on Saturday, December 9 on an Aer Lingus flight to Dublin that was scheduled to depart at 9:30 pm but was delayed 3 hours because of a snowstorm. The delay caused us to miss our connecting flight from Dublin to Geneva the next day. Europe flights were delayed everywhere because of snow. We changed our flight to a connection through London to Geneva which ended up being cancelled. At that point we asked for our luggage to be removed from the plane and returned to us. While I changed our tickets for a flight the next day, Terry waited for our bags but mine never showed up!

Aer Lingus transferred us to a hotel outside of Dublin for the night and we returned to the airport the next day, flew to Geneva and transferred to Club Med Val Thorens.

My bag did not get delivered to Val Thorens that day. I checked out the skis and equipment provided by Club Med and spent the afternoon trying to track my luggage. Finally I decided I should buy some clothes and equipment for skiing so that I could ski the rest of the week. I purchased the necessary equipment: helmet, goggles, pants, ski socks, thermals, shirt, gloves as well as some toiletries.

I joined the resort tour for our group at 4 pm. The tour included several rooms, the dining facilities, bars, disco, ski room, spa. Club Med is a vast resort with access to a ski trail that takes skiers directly to a lift that services the entire area as well as connecting lifts to other resorts such as Courcheval and Meribel. Guests can ski directly to the resort from a variety of lifts and the resort is close to the famous “La Folie Douce”, a dance party and outdoor concert for skiers featuring musicians, DJ, and entertainers. It is also found in Val D’Isere and is known throughout Europe and popular with the “Jet Set”.

Club Med Val Thorens features:

*A truly all-inclusive concept with options for more upscale food and beverage choices for an up charge

*A welcome desk in the first level with drive up access to the front doors and easy access to the elevators

*A main dining facility “Yurts” featuring various creative chef stations and a large comfortable dining room with great views

*A relaxed dining area and bar “Epicurious” featuring chef stations and a casual rustic “modern” atmosphere

*A bright and ultra chic bar and entertainment venue “Oxygen Bar” featuring comfortable lounge chairs, an outdoor terrace and Jacuzzi, with great music and entertainment nightly

*A skiwear and casual wear shop on the 4^th level

*Modern, nicely appointed rooms, each with a terrace and class doors to enjoy the views of the mountains and ski runs

*A spa facility for massages and spa treatments

*A fitness room with assorted machines, weights, mats and workout area

*A large steam room and dressing rooms and showers

*A large “Rock climbing wall”, staffed by trainers, in the main 3-story lobby

*Comfortable seating areas throughout the hotel for individuals or small groups to relax

*A large ski room for gearing up and an equipment center for rentals and repairs

*Hot chocolate and non-alcoholic drink stations in the main lobby areas.

*Hot wine and hors d’oeuvres daily in the ski meeting area for access to the lifts

The resort was modern, clean and bright with colored lights and accents. The staff was helpful and engaging and I enjoyed many conversations with staff members throughout my stay. The waiters, bartenders, and facilitators were also the entertainers in the party venues at night. They held lively stage shows and musical entertainment every evening. The evening started with pre-dinner cocktails, followed by dinner and ended in the Oxygen Bar. The resort was geared towards an adult clientele and any children that I observed at the resort were teens or young adults and I never observed them in any bars or clubs.

On Wednesday evening, Dec 13 we were treated to a special dinner and wine tasting at Epicurious Lounge. The chefs prepared special dishes and wine selections in conjunction with the sommelier. The food was exceptional this particular evening. It should be noted that the food at every meal was delicious and wonderfully served.

The town of Val Thorens is a mixture of modern and rustic alpine architecture. There were numerous restaurants, shops, and markets spread over a large area, accessible by one mountain access road and numerous smaller streets and walkways. Most of the shops featured ski apparel and ski equipment and gear associated with all-season mountain sports. Most items in the stores I visited were extremely expensive. For example, I needed some tape for a small injury and a roll of adhesive tape cost the equivalent of $12 USD. The resort is at a high altitude so many visitors experience altitude sickness and difficulty in walking and climbing stairs accompanied by shortness of breath. After a few days, visitors acclimate somewhat to the altitude and it becomes more comfortable.

During the days our agenda included breakfast between 8-9 am followed by ski departures when the lifts opened about 9 am. I was able to ski for 3 days, Dec. 11-13 and enjoyed one sun-filled day and 2 days of continuous snow. Val Thorens area constitutes an extensive ski area connecting multiple villages and resorts such as Courcheval, Meribel and Les Menuires as well as others and making it one of the largest ski resort areas in the world. We were able to ski from Val Thorens to Meribel on the sunny day since trails were clearly visible but on the remaining days we stayed in the Val Thorens area due to poor visibility and the danger of avalanches. Snow levels were high and Val Thorens had trucks throughout the day hauling away the piles of snow blocking the streets and sidewalks. The snow was continuing when we left the resort.

It is worth noting that my missing duffle bag was delivered to the Club Med front desk at 11:30 pm on Thursday, Dec 14 and I left on Friday morning at 5:30 am for my return flight to Boston. I never opened my bag!

Cancun/Playa Mujeres Fam –

I spent 3 nights at Secrets The Vine, 4nts at Secrets Playa Mujeres and toured several other resorts in each area.

Cancun –Secrets The Vine – is a very attractive resort on a beautiful stretch of beach; we had a great view of the sea from our balcony. Unfortunately the Sea is not swimmable most of the time. The resort’s 3 pools are situated beachside, so you have a great view of the water from all of them.

Our only disappointment at the Vine, besides the beach, was the food; it really left a lot to be desired. We might have just caught if at an off time as I’ve had clients stay there who thought the food was fine.

Service at the resort was most efficient; they work hard to please.

Hyatt Ziva – Great  resort; excellent location on a peninsula;  beautiful sea views surround the resort.. There are two swimmable beaches; one has some surf, the other as calm as a bath tub.   They offer all kinds of water sports, water aerobics,

floating climbable rafts, water park for children, etc. This resort has something for everyone.

This is a family resort, but does have a new adult only beachfront tower (Turquoise) w/sea view rooms, it’s own VIP check-in, private airport transfers, private lounge, private roof top infinity pool, etc.

The resort has 8 restaurants, 7 bars/lounges, coffee shop, pastry/candy shop, etc .

The aromas and fresh scents everywhere in the resort are amazing!

You would never guess this resort is right in Cancun’s Hotel Zone; it’s a beautiful oasis surrounded by water, where everyone is having a fun. I can’t say enough good things about the Ziva!

We also saw the adult-only Hyatt Zilara , formerly The Royal Cancun. It’s a nice resort; with some renovating (upcoming) I think it will be very nice. You definitely know you’re in the city though!

Playa Mujeres – New upcoming resort area north of Cancun. There aren’t a lot of hotels there just yet, no shopping areas, restaurants, etc. Quite a few resorts are scheduled to open in the next year or so. The swimmable white sand beaches are very nice, the sea color not as spectacular as Cancun and the Riviera Maya though.  It’s a quiet, attractive area, almost seems like it was carved out of the jungle. All of the resorts are set way back from the road.

Secrets Playa Mujeres – We really liked this adult-only resort; food was very good; service excellent, grounds were  very nice and immaculately clean. They had daily entertainment by the pool which was fun and everyone seemed to enjoy.

You can use the facilities at their sister family resort, Dreams, located next door; I say next door, but it is a bit of a hike. Continuous transportation between the two resorts is offered via golf carts. Adults staying at Dreams can use the facilities at Secrets.

Dreams is a really nice resort; the grounds are lovely! Rooms are very spacious here also. There are a lot of activities offered for adults and children. Explorer’s Club for kids 3 to 12 is open 10am to 10pm; the Core Zone Teen’s Club is open 9am to 1am.

The Delphinus Dolphin Habitat at Dreams features an interactive program allowing guests to observe dolphins up close in their natural habitat; there is a fee for this.

We were able to see the play Rock of Ages at the resort, which we really enjoyed. It is playing there until at least the end of January; that is an add’l charge also.

Guests at Secrets and Dreams have special privileges at the Playa Mujeres Golf Course, an 18 hole Greg Norman course.

Transportation is included, golf rates are reduced, concierge service is available to make reservations for you, etc. Quite often the resorts will offer a few rounds of complimentary golf.

I also took a quick tour of Beloved, Excellence, and Finest Resorts in Playa Mujeres. Beloved is a 5star boutique resort, very low key. I really liked it; only negative to me is their narrow beach. Excellence is also quite nice, only negative to me was the toilet area with see thru glass in some of the Junior Suites. Beloved and Excellence are adults-only resorts.

Finest, their family resort, was too contemporary for me; thought it was stark. On the upside, they had a great clubs and play areas for kids of all ages.

All in all I really liked the Playa Mujeres area; just hope it doesn’t get too big or busy. There’s a lot of construction going on, but somehow the noise is kept to a minimum.

 

FAM Report by Martha McNeile

San Francisco Weekend – June 17 -June 20, 2016 

 

Having never been to San Francisco I decided to join my husband on a business trip for a quick look at the city and Wine Country.

Friday June 17^th  – Parked at the Airport Sheraton – which I have found to be the quickest and easiest parking/shuttle.  My husbands business was right next to the airport so we stayed at The Embassy Suites SFO Airport.

Saturday, June 18^th – With a typical large included breakfast and a free shuttle to Union Square we headed to the city.  The Shuttle dropped us at The Westin St. Francis (The Grand Dame of the city).  This was a good starting point.  Looking to get some tourist stuff taken care of we asked the closest spot to take a Cable Car ride up to Nob Hill and Fisherman’s Wharf.  We soon found out that all the long lines we saw along the roads were the lines for the Cable Cars.  The bellman at The Westin said the waits were 1 ½ – 2 hours and suggested heading down Market Street to the Vintage streetcars which bring you to Fisherman’s Wharf.  The cost was $1.50 per person each way.  We got off at Pier 39 Boardwalk.  Here you will find  many shops and restaurants.  This is also where the tours to Alcatraz depart.

**Important note – If you have any clients interested in the Alcatraz Tour they must book in advance. Just for informational purposes we tried to get tickets for any tour over the weekend…no luck.  During the busy season they are sold out months in advance.  When I returned and talked about this Beth checked quick for clients that were going the next week and could not get them tickets during their stay.**

There are several harbor cruises ranging from 30-minutes to 4-hour dinner cruises departing from Pier 39. Because we had such limited time we chose a 30-minute cruise.  This took us around Alcatraz Island and up close to the San Francisco Seals. It was a very reasonable $30.00 per person but I learned the hard way the difference in the Atlantic Ocean and The Pacific.  I am comfortable on any size boat but was not prepared for the rough water of the San Francisco Bay.  I would advise to look for the largest boat available!

We walked past Old Fisherman’s Wharf to Ghirardelli Square.  Our plan was to take the Cable Car back down to Union Square only to find the lines were now 3 1/2-hours long.  So it was back up by the Vintage Streetcar.

I stopped in to the Westin St. Francis and also The Sir Francis Drake. Both good locations and would recommend.  However, I have to say I was not prepared for the homeless situation in San Francisco.  Just one block from the Westin makes a big difference.  I don’t think I would recommend anything else in Union Square area.  Nob Hill will be my recommendation from now on.  After walking around, I understood why our shuttle driver who saw we were unsure which way to turn when he dropped us off on the side of the Westin, said turn right – you don’t want to turn left.

Sunday, June 19th

Today we headed to Sonoma and Napa.  We took the Golden Gate Bridge.  Definitely a sight to see.

We lucked out with a beautiful sunny day and a beautiful view of the bridge. Once over the bridge and out of traffic we relaxed and enjoyed the beautiful weather and ride to wine country.  We stopped in Sonoma for lunch and a quick walk through the shops in town.  We then headed to Napa.  A quick call to a family member who is a wine conoisseur for her expert advice we had some suggestions for their favorite wineries:

Silver Oak for the best Cabernet, Chateau Montelena for the spectacular grounds and wines, Duckhorn for an excellent tasting & Beringer for an entertaining tour. Again, we had a time restraint and could only try one.  We settled on Beringer.  The tour was entertaining and the grounds beautiful.  I was surprised to taste some of their better wines and found my new favorite – Beringer Estates Collection – Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvigon 2013.

It was evening as we returned to San Francisco via Route 1 – through farm county – and savored the view of the lights of the city as we headed back over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Just a note about going over The Golden Gate Bridge. You pay the toll on the return trip.  However, there are no cash tolls.  Everything is online.  You can go online and pay ahead of time (Fas Trak) or Pay by Plate with no stopping at the Toll Plaza.  With this option you will need to go online and pay within 48- hours of your crossing.  Your license plate is photographed as you cross the bridge.  The website is www.goldengate.org. The toll is $7.00.

Although this was a very quick visit I was really able to get the lay of the land in San Francisco and a better idea of hotel locations.  The highlight was wine country, which is definitely a must return!!!

Submitted by: Martha McNeile

 

FAM TRIP TO ST. MARTIN AND ANGUILLA

HOSTED BY ISLAND DESTINATIONS

MAY 16-22

 

I first have to say that our hosts Gabriel and Elina from Island Destinations were outstanding and we had a great group of agents on the trip. We were a small group consisting of agents from Boston, the New York area, Sao Paolo, Oklahoma City, LA, Charlotte and myself, so it was quite a mix.

This trip consisted of inspections of resorts at La Samanna in St. Martin, Cuisinart Golf and Spa Resort,  Malliouhana, Cap Juluca, Kishti Villas, Element Villas, and Viceroy that are all in Anquilla. All of our transportation was provided by Fun Time Charter with our (Asian) driver Rodney.

LA SAMANNA

Our first stop and overnight was at The Belmond La Samanna. This resort of consists of 83 rooms and suites, 8 three and four bedroom villas. I stayed in a one bedroom terrace suite which had a large sitting area, bedroom, small kitchen, oversized bathroom with a rain shower and Jacuzzi bathtub with L’occitaine amenities, private balcony leading to a rooftop terrace. My suite was overlooking the beach and the pool/beach bar. All of the rooms are ocean view and we were able to see the deluxe rooms, two bedroom suite, terrace suite, 2 bedroom cottage. This resort has a wonderful dining venue such as the Trellis Restaurant serving French cuisine, the Interlude which offers a buffet breakfast each morning, and the Beach Bar offering salads, grilled fish and light fare during the day. The resort has 2 pools – one main pool and one infinity pool near the beach bar and beach cabanas are also available to rent on a daily or weekly basis. We visited the Spa which had 6 massage rooms and 2 facials and an outdoor shower. They have three professional tennis courts and a stunning fitness center with a full range of exercise equipment.

After the site inspection was over we were sent to one of the private villas located on the cliff for dinner which was prepared for us by the executive chef and hosted by Tracey Fentem, Director of Sales and Marketing. He prepared a wonderful dinner consisting of appetizers, cucumber soup, tuna tartar, and Sea Bass.

CUISINART GOLF REOSRT AND SPA

The next morning we were met at the resort and taken to the ferry for our twenty minute ride to Anguilla. We had a private transfer to our next stay for 2 nights at Cuisinart Golf Resort and Spa. We were met by our hosts Angelique Peterson, Director of Sales and Marketing, and Christy Connolly, Senior Sales Manager. I have to say that they were my favorite resort hosts on the trip and I would like to thank them for making my stay at Cuisinart a memorable one.

This resort offers everything – pure and simple – and it has the most amazing beach. They have 98 suites, and private villas with pools. They are located on Rendezvous Bay with the most amazing beach. They also can guarantee connecting rooms if you have a family with small children. If you book with ID they almost always upgrade your clients to the beachfront suite, which was where I was fortunate to stay for the next few nights. My room was very spacious with large bedroom with a private sitting area, a huge walk-in closet, large balcony, and the bathroom has a private shower, oversized bath tub and L’occitaine amenties. The resort offers a wonderful spa facility, 18 hole golf course, tennis courts, cooking classes and wine tastings. If you are a beach person they offer sunfish sailboats, Hobie cats, windsurfers, snorkels, masks and fins. I did a little bit of snorkeling while the beach staff set up my chair. They provided me with towels and water and at 3 PM they gave me a sorbet which was a wonderful treat. They also had a nice pool located in the center of the resort. Although my stay was short we were given a tour of the Hydroponic Farm and a cooking class by Executive Chef Jasper.  We also had lunch at the Café Mediteraneo and dinner at Tokyo which was delicious.  The resort also has a Chef’s Table , Italian and French Restaurant located on the property. The only thing that I would recommend them would be to update the balcony furniture.

CAP JULUCA

We had some time during our stay at Cuisinart to do a site inspection at Cap Juluca which had recently gone through a 22 million dollar renovation. This resort is located on Maunday Bay which is around the corner from Cuisinart. The resort consists of 15-20 Moorish style buildings. The accommodations are spread out and all facing the mile long beach. All rooms have French doors that open up to your private balcony or patio, all rooms are ocean view. I was able to see the newly renovated Jonquil Suite which a 3200 sq ft villa featuring  2 master bedrooms, a sitting room, full service kitchen, oceanfront dining terrace and a Jacuzzi with a freshwater infinity pool. I was also able to inspect a superior room, luxury room and a Jr. Suite with one being slightly larger than each other. All rooms had TV and Cable, Bose wave music system, wireless internet, air conditioning, ceiling fan, telephone, refrigerator, marble bathroom with separate shower area and bidet, with the Jr. Suites having a soaking tub.  The resort has three restaurants, Pimm’s: European Cuisine, Spice: Pan Asian cuisine, and Blue: Caribbean Cuisine. After our site inspection we had dinner at Pimm’s hosted by Kevin Carty who is Manager of Operations. Although I didn’t see the pool I know that one exists. The hotel offers a variety of water sports and also a has a spa and tennis courts.

MALLIOUHANA

Our next overnight stay was at Malliouhana. This resort had been closed for 4 years and has recently re-opened. We arrived at 10:30 and they immediately checked us into our rooms. This resort consists of an impressive lobby, 44 rooms with garden view, ocean view, Jr. suites and 2 bedroom suites. The only connecting room option in this resort is a king/king which I found quite odd. The resort has 2 restaurants – The Restaurant at Malliouhana and the Sunset Bar. The bathrooms have dual vanities, separate soaking tub and shower. The rooms themselves are very bright featuring either 2 queen bed or a king, private sitting area and the TV is in located in the mirror, and all rooms are connected to wireless internet. The balconies are very large with bright orange rocking lounge chairs with a table and 2 chairs. The pool area consists of 2 infinity pools, one adult only and one family pool and they are located right next to each other. They have 2 beach areas, one on Mead’s bay and one on the other side of the resort which is very private.  There are a lot of steps to get down to the beach but they will give you a ride if necessary. They also have a fitness center, spa and bikes on property.

KISHTI VILLAS

We were able to see Kishti East and West. These villas are located right on Meads Bay and right on the ocean. Kishti East is a 6 bedroom villa located closer to the ocean, and the West is a 5 bedroom villa which is set further back. In high season a chef is included and in the off season a chef will be at the site 3 times only serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. They have a prep kitchen, TV room, and fitness area which is located in the basement, wireless internet and a rooftop sunbathing deck. All of the windows are floor to ceiling which offers fabulous views of the ocean. Each villa has its own private pool with  lounge chairs.

ELEMENTS VILLAS

There are 3 villas in the Elements Villa collection – they are Sand, Sea, and Sky. We were able to see the Sea and Sky villa. The Sea villa is a 5 bedroom and the Sky villa is a 4 bedroom. All villas are beachfront with a private staircase to the beach. Each villa comes with continental breakfast daily, butler service for 8 hours daily, housekeeping daily, outside dining area, infinity pool, ceiling fans throughout, heated Jacuzzi by the pool, large outdoor showers, and high speed internet.  Some of the bathrooms have outdoor showers. They also offer a full fitness center and tennis courts. If you want a private escape this would be the place to go.

VICEROY ANGUILLA

This resort is the largest on the island with 188 rooms, suites and villas. We stayed in a 4 bedroom ocean view villa with private infinity pool for 2 nights. It had a master suite with a large bathroom, separate shower, bath tub, and toilet, with a private outdoor shower with access right out to the pool the Jr. suite had the same amenities with a smaller bedroom area., the third bedroom had 2 double beds with a private bathroom. The fourth bedroom was located outside from the main villa. Most people use this room for the nanny. All of the villas have a large kitchen, laundry facilities, living area with cable/tv and wireless internet through the resort. The resort boasts an 8,000 sq. ft. oceanfront spa, 3 championship tennis courts, saltwater adults only infinity pool, family pool, fitness center, five dining and lounge locations. We had dinner at Coba at the sunset lounge. They offer continental breakfast each morning at Aleta, but it was more than continental breakfast. They offered a huge selection of breads and rolls, fruits, cook to order omelets, and yogurts. This resort has 2 beaches one on Mead’s bay where you can find a host of water sports and another one which is on the villa side and is more private. The is also a wonderful place for lunch on the villa side called the Half Shell.  If you want to see and be seen this is the place to be.

Anguilla happens to be my favorite island now!

Thank you ID for the invite, I can’t wait until the next time!

Kris Levy

East Greenwich

 

 

FAM Report by Matt Balsamo, Cranston

US Mega- Dubai November 2015

Nov 14^th

Left Boston on Emirates at 1055am. Arrived in Dubai at 840am on Sunday Nov 15^th

I was met by representatives from Dubai Tourism and transferred to the JW Marriott Marquis.  We then had a city tour for about an hour on a hop on hop off tour bus. Rest of the day was at leisure and then a group dinner at the hotel at 9pm.

Nov 16^th

After breakfast. We went to the Burj Khalifa. This is the tallest building in the world.  We went to observation decks on the 124^th and 148^th floors.  Then we went to the Underwater Zoo at the Dubai Mall.

We then transferred from there to the Armani hotel for a presentation.  Then lunch at the Sheikh Mohammed Cultural Center for Understanding with traditional Arabic food.  This is a center that has been designed by the ruler of the country to help educate people on the culture of the Emirati people. It was a very educational experience and I would say one of the highlights of the trip.

We then had a tour of the gold and spice markets.

Free time for about an hour before going to the Palazzo Versace for hotel inspection and dinner.

Nov 17^th

After breakfast, we were transferred to The Palace Hotel Downtown for the workshop on Dubai Tourism. We learned about their campaign to reach 20 million visitors by 2020. There were various hotels, tour operators, Emirates who gave presentations.  We had lunch at the hotel following the workshop

Following some free time in the late afternoon we were transferred to the Waldorf Astoria hotel for an inspection and cocktails outside on their beach.  We were then transferred to the Mina Al Salam a Jeremiah property for dinner.

Nov 18^th

After breakfast we transferred to Ski Dubai at the Mall of the Emirates.  I went tubing and got to experience the largest indoor ski park in the world. After a little free time at the mall we had a hotel inspection and lunch at the Sheraton Hotel at the Mall of the Emirates.

We had Free time in the afternoon before heading out for the Desert Safari.

The Desert Safari was an hour outside of Dubai.  It included riding in vintage land rovers over rolling dunes.  We arrived at a camp site that was created especially for us. There was a man with 2 falcons, camel riding, Arabic bread making demonstrations, belly dancers and a wonderful buffet. It was a wonderful experience.

Nov 19^th.

After breakfast we were transferred to the Burj Al Arab (the worlds only 7 star hotel).  We were giving a tour of the property. After this we had a little free time for shopping before hotel inspection and lunch at Zabeel Saray Hotel on the Palm.

For our final evening there was a Gala dinner planned at Meydan Racecourse.  This is a premier horse racing venue.  We had a wonderful cocktail reception followed but a sit down dinner on the patio over looking the racecourse.

Nov 20^th

Transferred to Dubai airport for flight home to Boston

Matt Balsamo
Cranston

FAM Report by Kris Levy, East Greenwich

ILTM AMERICAS RIVIERA MAYA WITH STAYS AT FAIRMONT MAYAKOBA, GRAND VELAS, AND VICEROY RIVIERA MAYA

SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 9, 2015

I recently attended the ILTM Americas in the Riviera Maya which was held at the Fairmont Mayakoba. I met with over 70 luxury suppliers ranging from DMC’s, small boutique hotels, large luxury chain hotels, and tourists boards. I’m going to share with you some of the exhibitors that I visited.

Hotel Villa Maria Cristina mr@verypcc.com www.villamariacristina.net This property is located in Guanajuato, Mexico and is close to the colonial cities. It has 38 suites and one 8-room villa. All rooms have high ceilings, large framed windows, and hardwood floors. The owner of the hotel also owns a silver mine and they offer tours on a daily basis. I would use this property for a guest visiting the colonial cities or a guest doing business in Mexico City and wants to get away for a weekend.

Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof info@hotel-schweizerhof.com www.hotel-schweizerhof.com This resort is 120 years old and is located in Grindewald. This property is great for all seasons especially for skiing because of the close proximity to the lifts. It has 27 apartments, 2 junior suites with balconies, fitness center, spa, and pool. They offer either half board or full board.

HL Adventures toddigodi@hl.is www.hl.is This would be your DMC for Iceland. They provide accommodations, activities, entertainment, and private transfers throughout Iceland, Greenland and the North Pole. They are very much into adventures and outside the box thinking.

Annandale, New Zealand jasmine@annandale.com www.annandale.com This one really impressed me! It’s located south of Christchurch on the coast. It boasts 4 private villas on a working farm with farm-to-table cuisine. This property would be great for a honeymoon couple, family gathering or even a corporate event. They also own Lake Kora (www.lakekora.com) which is a lakefront property featuring luxury lodges set on a thousand acre wilderness escape in upstate New York. I see this property being used for a destination weeding or a family reunion.

Val D’Isere Tourist Office valpromo@valdisere.com www.valdisere.com Val D’Isere is situated at an altitude of 1850 m and offers a connected ski areas of 300km of slopes, and glaciers. They also have 3, 5-star properties throughout the area. They are the only ski resort that offers intermediate slopes on the tops of the mountains.

Hotel LM gerencia@hotel-lm.com www.hotel-lm.com This is part of the small luxury hotel chain and has 7 rooms with only one room having 2 double beds. The restaurant in this hotel doesn’t have a menu because the chef comes out and asks you what you would like to eat and prepares everything to your liking. It also has a roof-top terrace.

Hotel Quadrifolio melopez@hotelquadrifolio.com www.hotelquadrifolio.com This is a small luxury hotel located I n Cartegena, Colombia. It features 8 jr. suites, 2 conference centers and a rooftop Jacuzzi.

The Ritz-Carlton Istanbul Caglae.gonculer@ritzcarlton.com www.ritzcarlton.com.tr I think that the Ritz says it all. They are located on the hill overlooking the Bosphurus. Please offer your clients the concierge level because it includes 5 meals per day, open bar, 20 minute massage, and the use of a smart car for 4 hours each day. The cost is 70.00 more per night and I think that it’s a great value!!

Intiways lia@intiways.travel www.intiways.travel This is a great DMC option for Peru. They specialize in luxury travel for all of Peru using properties like Belmond, and Relais de Chateaux.

Casta Diva Resort and Spa sales@castadivaresort.com www.castadivaresort.com They are located right on Lake Como, They have 9 villas with a total of 75 rooms and suites. All of the villas have views of the lake. They have one restaurant and a wonderful spa.

Blue Lagoon Iceland berlind@bluelagoon.is www.bluelagoon.com The Blue Lagoon is Iceland’s most unique attraction and one of the 25 wonders of the world. This property will soon be opening a 5-star spa hotel. Some of the rooms will even have their own blue lagoon plunge pool.

The Tokyo Station Hotel veda@tokyostationhotel.jp www.slh.com/hotels/the-tokyo-station-hotel The Tokyo Station Hotel re-opened in October 2012. They are conveniently located right at the main train station, but they insist one hears no train noise. The hotel is 50 minutes from NRT by train and the hotel will meet you at the end of the train platform for an easy registration.

Ted Turner Expeditions erossi@chredo.com www.tedturnerexpeditiions.com Ted Turner expeditions was created to provide guests to a wildlife and nature experience with over 11 million acres in New Mexico. These are his own homes that he has opened up to the public. It’s like staying in your own national park.

Exclusive by TLC Antonio.silva@exclusivebytlc.com www.exclusivebytlc.com This is a great DMC option for Portugal. Their emphasis on art, bicycle, wine and food tours for all of Portugal.

Lafayette Group DMC Info@lafayette-travel.com www.lafayette-travel.com This is my new DMC for France, Monaco. They have 5 agencies based in Paris, Cannes, Marseilles, Strasbourg and Monaco. They also can fast track your clients though CDG. Do yourself a favor and check out their website because they have tons of options for your clients.

Blai Limosines olga@blailimosines.com www.blailimosines.com This company offer first class transfers, tours, certified guides, and chauffeurs throughout Spain. They own their own fleet of Mercedes sedans, minivans, and coaches. They also offer tickets to many attractions.

Fairmont Mayacoba Samantha.gatza@fairmont .com www.fairmint.com/mayakoba-riviera-maya The Fairmont offers elegant accommodations and impeccable service. It also offers room only or an inclusive plan. You also have signing privileges with the Rosewood and Banyan Tree since they are all on the same property. I stayed in a jungle view room and I have to say that I loved the bathroom!! The accommodations are located on the beach, canals, and mangrove forests. Use Samantha’s email address to VIP your clients.

Fairmont Southhampton Bermuda Resort Ashley.malone@fairmont.com www.fairmont.com Perched on Bermuda’s south shore with miles of pink sand beaches, the Fairmont Southhampton, sits on 100 acres. The resort has 9 dining options, 2 pools, 6 tennis courts and a kids club.

Eolo Patagonia’s Spirit lucia@eolo.com.ar www.eolo.com.ar Eolo is a unique resort that combines the impressive nature of Southern Patagonia. The lodge has 17 rooms.  Common areas : two living rooms, library, TV room, bar, and restaurant.

Grace’s Distinctive Properties gdistinctiveltd@aqol.com www.gracesdistinctiveproperties.com   North America sales and marketing firm, specializing in representing hotels and villas in Mexico, Caribbean and Italy.

Grand Velas Resort Riviera Maya ggodoy@grandvelas.com www.grandvelas.com I was fortunate enough to spend 4 nights at this luxury all-inclusive resort. They have 3 sections, Zen section, Ambassador, and a Grand Class section. The Zen section has a more jungle feel to it because it’s not on the beach and is less quite. The ambassador section is located right on the beach and is for families. This section has their own infinity pool with swim up bar. The Grand Class section is an adults only sections with and infinity pool and a swim up bar. The resort has 8 restaurants, some buffet and some a la carte. I have to say that food was outstanding, the wine selection was superb, and the spirits were all high end. Everyone has their own concierge that can help you with dining reservations, spa appointments, and anything else that you desire.   The rooms and balconies were very spacious with L’occitane amenities, nespresso maker, and a stocked minibar.

Viceroy Riviera Maya Again, I was fortunate enough to stay at this resort. As soon as we arrived we were greeted by the hotel staff. The lobby area was all open and you felt like you were in a jungle with wonderful scents all around you. This resort has 41 villas with private plunge pools in each villa. The villas were absolutely fabulous. It had all the bells and whistles, but my favorite was the outdoor shower. The resort has a fitness center, boutique, 2 restaurants, and a spa. I would go back in a heartbeat!!!   I met with a lot of exhibitors and if you are looking for something different and you don’t see it here please give me a call and I may have additional contacts or insight for you.

Kris Levy East Greenwich