Brownell Travel Journal

Couples Romantic Getaway in Mexico

2009-11-09T11:53:00.023-06:00

Luxury travel advisors, Bowden Sarrett and Kemper Sarrett, just returned from a couples romantic getaway in Mexico. Below is a photo tour through their incredible time:

Our romantic getaway began at the Vallarta Palace Hotel. We then spent some time at Capella Ixtapa. Each afternoon at Capella they deliver a bucket with two iced corona beers and chips and salsa and guacamole. Heaven--I am missing that already!

Here is the view from our room at the Vallarta Palace Hotel.
This is the view inside our room at the Vallarta Palace Hotel. Note the big jacuzzi tub!We also stayed at the Ixtapa Capella! Capella has stunning views as it is built on the side of a cliff. It has a funicular to take you up and down if you dont want to climb the steep stairs. It is actually great fun to ride! Our room had an incredible view over the Pacific ocean..here is a shot looking out from our room.Another picture taken from our patio out towards the Pacific. We had the same view at the outdoor restaurant where we ate most of our breakfasts. Moletes and chilaquiles were our favorites!One of our first days, we had lunch in Zihuatenejo at the Fat Mermaid or La Siera Gorda. Cold beer and tiratas (fish strips marinated in lime juice) and fish tacos were incredible.Here we are in Capella's infinity pool. You can tell how amazing the views are. We also spent a little time checking out The Tides Zihautenajo. We had a fabulous meal here out on the beach. Here are our delectable dishes: Bowden's seafood plate and Kemper's sea bass.This was our view of the town of Zihautenajo sparkling across the bay.Flaming coffee after dessert at The Tides!
We spent a day deep sea fishing out of Zihautenejo and had a blast. Bowden caught the first fish-mahi mahi. Kemper caught more fish-and bigger ones! The sea was really rough..you may not be able to tell from the pics,but the waves were like The Perfect Storm...

We enjoyed a really unique dinner outside at Capella. We took some of the tuna and mahi (dolfin) back and visited with the chef in the afternoon after fishing. He offered to cook our catch for us specially for dinner.Here is some of the sushi and shashimi that the chef made from the tuna we caught!
The Vallarta Palace Hotel and Capella Ixtapa were captivating properties. We also loved taking a peak at the Tides Zihautenejo. We did not want to come home!

To learn more about romantic couples getaways in Mexico, contact luxury travel advisor Bowden Sarrett.

Adventure Travel in Mexico

2009-11-05T09:55:00.007-06:00

Bowden Sarrett, one of our top Mexico travel specialists, has just returned from a fantastic stay at Capella Ixtapa Resort & Spa. While there, she had a blast rapelling and zip-lining--Read about it and see her great photos below!

In Puerto Vallarta, Mexico we did a full day excursion with Vallarta Adventures. We began our adventure in Nuevo Vallarta, where we boarded a boat. (There they have huge tanks and work with and train dolphins and I assume have regular shows and swim sessions.). We took the inflatable boat ride to a tiny village where we got in the back of a truck to ride up the mountain. Seat belts required! Finally at the top we were outfitted with climbing harnesses and helmits and applied lots of bug spray before we mounted surefooted mules for a slow ride to the summit. After a safety talk and an up close visit with a tarantula we descended by multiple zip lines over the trees and waterfalls and also did a little bit of rapelling which twice landed us in freezing cold water. The day involved a little bit of hiking and lots of fun and the reward at the end was chips and salsa before the ride down the mountain in that same old truck. They had cold beer for sale too! Below are more fun photos. This experience is a must for anyone wanting a bit of adventure while on vacation in Mexico!

To learn more about adventure travel experiences or travel in Mexico, contact Bowden Sarrett by clicking here.

A Kid Friendly Retreat in Las Vegas

2009-11-04T09:03:00.006-06:00

Suzette Mack, one of our top family travel specialists, has just returned from Vegas with insights into kid-friendly travel!

I don’t generally recommend Las Vegas as a family vacation destination, but sometimes a trip there is necessary due to family or work obligations. Parents can avoid the casinos, clubs, and any other “scenery” they find too risqué for their children, yet still enjoy luxurious amenities and exemplary service by staying at the Four Seasons Hotel. Located near the airport, in the Mandalay Bay complex, the Four Seasons offers a non-smoking, non-gaming retreat. In fact, when sitting poolside, or enjoying a meal on the terrace, it almost feels like being in Hawaii. Yet steps away are the casinos and pools of Mandalay Bay, as well as a complimentary car service ready to whisk guests in comfort to other destinations on The Strip.I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, and though I was not with my children, the family-friendliness of the hotel was evident. In fact, I ran into several parents with young children during my stay. The rooms are spacious, and the one bedroom suites are particularly nice for families as they have a sofa bed in the living room. There’s even ample space for a rollaway (which was one of the plushest I have ever seen), so each child can have their own bed. The main Four Seasons pool is modest in size compared to other Las Vegas hotel pools, but it is quiet and well-staffed with pool attendants who promptly bring towels and a pitcher of ice water with lemon wedges. There’s even a sunglass butler to clean guests’ glasses and tighten up loose screws. A small wading pool located on the far side of the bar gives parents with young children their own retreat. And for children of all ages (even grown-ups), the Mandalay Bay wave pool and lazy river are just steps away through a private gate which only Four Seasons guests may use. The Four Seasons Hotel actually occupies the 35th through 39th floors of the Mandalay Bay tower. However check-in is completely separate, and guests take an express elevator to their rooms. It is possible to never see a slot machine or gaming table while at the Four Seasons, but for those who want to gamble, the Mandalay Bay casino is just steps away through a key carded door exclusively for use of Four Seasons guests.Brownell is a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, so my guests receive daily breakfast for two (a $76 value, which covers the wonderful buffet), a $100 spa credit per room, and a complimentary upgrade, based on availability. And suites are very affordable right now, as a Buy 1 Night Get One Free promo runs through the end of the year.

For more information about family travel or special rates and amenities at Four Seasons Resorts & Hotels worldwide, contact Suzette Mack, Family Travel Specialist at suzette@family-treks.com.

The Loss of a Friend and Visionary

2009-11-02T09:28:00.005-06:00

Anton Turner, a dear friend and safari guide and manager at Lukula Selous Camp, was tragically killed on Friday, October 30 while on a filming expedition with BBC in Selous. Please read Brownell Travel Advisor Vicki Upchurch's note about Anton below.

This spring a darling young man from Tanzania came to stay in our guest house. He arrived in the U.S. without a credit card (believed in the cash system) so he could not rent a car or, in some cases, a hotel room. He borrowed a car from a mutual friend in Boulder and drove to the mountains. He and his father had been hunters but realized that education was the way to preserve Africa and founded the Selous Project. He had just been featured in Elite Traveler when he arrived here and was so surprised and pleased when I showed him the issue.

He gave me a DVD of what he was doing, which I made copies of and sent to the offices, and he was doing great work. He had a vision, and a plan, and was starting to make it come together. Keeping in touch with him this year has been so much fun as his enthusiasm for what he was doing was infectious. He was seeing his dream become reality and he was about to become a first time father.

Even though his life has been cut short, his dream will live on.

This makes the saying "live your life as if every day was your last" even more poignant.

To learn more about The Sesous Project, please click here http://www.selousproject.com/

Getaway on Turks and Caicos

2009-10-22T11:00:00.013-05:00

Alysia Hopper and her family took time for some Caribbean travel in the beautiful Virtuoso resorts on Turks and Caicos this summer. Read below about their fabulous experiences!

My family and I recently returned from a little summer break week in Turks and Caicos. I was amazed at the development the island has seen! There is building galore going on and Grace Bay Beach has really become lined with hotels.

If a luxury beach vacation on Turks is calling you but you have a desire to still get away from it all, consider booking a hotel off of the main island. Parrot Cay is a wonderful 5 star resort on its own island about a 15 -20 minute boat ride away. It is a VIRTUOSO property and along with rooms, you may also rent homes for larger family stays. Among the homes for rent there are Donna Karan’s compound and Bruce Willis’ compound. The resort is low key luxe at its best.

Another great option for those who wish to be closer to the action but still want that private island feeling is AMANYARA. Another VIRTUOSO property located at the Northwest point of Provo with 99 of its own acres., it takes 25 mins to get here from the airport or (anywhere else in town) and the last 10 minutes of this is on an unmarked dirt road…the contrast between your drive into the resort and the resort itself is fantastic! The resort is an oasis of serenity and beauty…an amazing place. I highly recommend it for a couples get away. There are no connecting “rooms’” at this resort, so this not ideal for families. While there are fabulous villas to rent for a multi generational get away, its still better if your kids are a little older as the rooms at the villa are also separated from one another by a pool or a reflecting pond (depending on the villa chosen). As far as activities go, there are many to choose from. A highlight for us was a sunset ride along Long Bay beach with Provo Ponies (http://www.provoponies.com/) This was definitely a treat! The tide was high so we could not “swim” with our horses, but we will plan it for low tide next time. Some other things we enjoyed were: spa treatments at the Regent Palms hotel, a snorkeling trip with Big Blue Unlimited (http://www.bigblue.tc/) out to water cay, pine cay and parrot cay.

Another treat was the food! We enjoyed a great casual meal on the beach at Horse Eye Jacks, a superb lunch at the Gansevoort hotel poolside, and a fine dining experience at Anacaona’s at the Grace Bay Club with a pre-drink at the Infinity Bar. My all time favorite dish, however, was the tuna sashimi appetizer (big enough to be eaten as the main entrée) at Coco Bistro. It was delicious! Other meals not to miss are dinner at dinner at Amanyara, my favorite new hotel in the Caribbean, and lunch poolside at Parrot Cay if you take a snorkel trip for the day.

A fantastic family vacation! We cant wait to go back!

To learn more about an escape to the Caribbean or luxury beach vacaction, contact Alysia Hopper or visit us at http://www.brownelltravel.com/.

Travel + Leisure A-List Agents!

2009-10-21T11:59:00.004-05:00

Read below for the press release on our very own Margret Propper and Ellen LeCompte!

VIRTUOSO® ADVISORS MARGRET PROPPER AND ELLEN LECOMPTE NAMED ON 2009 TRAVEL + LEISURE "A-LIST"

Brownell Travel's Margret Propper and Ellen LeCompte Recognized as Top Travel Agents by Prominent Magazine

New York, NY (October 21, 2009) - In its October issue, available now on newsstands, Travel + Leisure magazine reveals the top travel agents in the world, including Ellen LeCompte and Margret Propper from Brownell Travel, a member of leading travel network Virtuoso ®. For the 8th annual "A-List," Margret and Ellen were two of only 129 top travel agents selected by Travel + Leisure editors, who evaluated hundreds of candidates for this highly selective guide. The prestigious list organizes the agents by area of specialization and includes their years of experience and consulting fees. Margret appears in the Alaska category, and received this recognition based on 35 years of experience with travel to Alaska. Ellen was selected for England travel with over 20 years of experience. Virtuoso travel experts accounted for 76 of these 129 top agents - nearly 60 percent of the list. The complete 2009 A-List is available on http://www.travelandleisure.com/.

"We are proud that Virtuoso experts, like Margret Propper and Ellen LeCompte, have the honor of being named the best in their field by Travel + Leisure's very knowledgeable editorial team," said Matthew D. Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso. "Margret and Ellen are representative of the more than 6,000 Virtuoso advisors whose efforts change people's lives through the experience of travel. Those who travel with Margret and Ellen do so with confidence and enjoy the collaboration and 'Return on Life™' that comes from working with a Virtuoso advisor."

Travel + Leisure Editor-in-Chief Nancy Novogrod said, "Given the complications of life these days, along with the abundant opportunities to travel well at a good price, an experienced travel agent can make a huge difference. Our A-List Guide is a terrific resource for interesting travels--and stress reduction."

Travel + Leisure's "A-List" agents also shared their insights on current travel habits and preferences. Some highlights include:

More families are taking multigenerational vacations to Africa, Southern Europe (Tuscany and Provence), and Greece, despite the economic turndown;

T+L A-Listers cite the growing appeal of train travel around the world, in places such as Australia, Russia, and Kenya;

Travel deals may not be this good again for a long time. Top five value destinations include: Chile, Argentina, Australia, South Africa, and Switzerland.

Whether it is a seat on a sold-out flight, booking the preferred corner room with a view, or mapping out a complicated itinerary, these "A-List" agents, including Ellen and Margret, can make travelers' most difficult requests possible. For more information on traveling under the guidance of an "A-List" agent, contact Margret Propper at 205-414-7109 or margretp@brownelltravel.com, or Ellen LeCompte at 804-353-0075 x3 or ellen@sterlingtvl.com.

# # #
About Brownell Travel

Brownell Travel, founded in 1887 and headquartered in Birmingham, AL, is the oldest retail travel agency in North America. For more than a century, the travel advisors of Brownell have dedicated themselves to providing their clients with exceptional travel experiences. The personal relationship between advisor and client has been a hallmark of Brownell for more than a century. Beyond travel agents, Brownell's advisors are recognized as the very best by the leading travel authorities and magazines for their supreme expertise, experience and highest professional standards. In addition, Brownell's innovative Hosting and Mentoring programs are leading the industry for developing top-notch luxury travel advisors. To learn more about Brownell, visit us on the web at http://www.brownelltravel.com/.

About Virtuoso

Virtuoso® is the industry's leading luxury travel network. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 300 agencies with more than 6,000 elite travel specialists in 22 countries in North and South America, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, as well as over 1,000 of the world's best travel providers and premier destinations. The network's member agencies generate over $5.1 billion annually in travel sales, making the group the most powerful in the luxury travel segment. Their relationships with the finest travel companies provide the network's affluent clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. Virtuoso is the exclusive network of travel services and benefits provided by MasterCard® for participating World Elite MasterCard® programs. For more information, please visit http://www.virtuoso.com/.

About Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure and its website http://www.travelandleisure.com/ propel readers to travel now, travel smarter, and travel often. With an eye for the authentic, the innovative, and the irresistible, T+L fuses expert reporting on style, culture, food, and design with stunning photography to transport its readers to the places-and the experiences-that matter most. The long-standing authority in its field, Travel + Leisure has the largest, most affluent audience of any travel magazine and is an indispensable read for today's global citizen. Travel + Leisure has a network of international editions, including Travel + Leisure Mexico, Travel + Leisure Australia/New Zealand, Travel + Leisure Turkey, Travel + Leisure China, Travel + Leisure South Asia, and Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia.

Media Contacts:

Haisley Smith

Marketing Director, Brownell Travel

205-414-7175

Email: haisleys@brownelltravel.com

Misty Ewing

Virtuoso - Director, Public Relations

Ph: 212.588.8242 or m: 206.484.8022

Email: mewing@virtuoso.com

Elizabeth Marsh / Rachael Chappa

Travel + Leisure

Ph: 212.382.5684 / 212.642.1972

Email: elizabeth.c.marsh@aexp.com / rachael.e.chappa@aexp.com

Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialists 2009

2009-07-21T15:14:00.011-05:00

This week, Condé Nast Traveler magazine has released its August issue, which contains one of the most valuable resources for travelers each year! The best of the best of travel specialists for destinations throughout the world. These 126 specialists are chosen among hundreds of applicants for their expertise. Here is an excerpt of what Wendy Perrin had to say in the magazine and her glowing recommendations of Brownell's own Meg North (Panama and Recommended Generalist), Margret Propper (Alaska and European River Cruise), Linda Allen (Affordable Large Ship), Marion Harbison (Germany), and Caroline Wood (Rocky Mountains). We are beyond proud to have our advisors topping the list again for the best travel advisors in the world!

126 Top Travel Specialists

(and what they can do for you)

"Twenty years of interviewing travel agents and tour operators for “The Perrin Report” and other Conde Nast Traveler articles has given me a well-thumbed directory of the most trusted insiders—people who offer the best combination of specialized knowledge (based on firsthand travel experience), local connections, user-friendliness, and value for your dollar.

Each year, my team and I evaluate hundreds of new applicants to this list, and only a small number make the cut. Our recommended specialists have undergone a rigorous screening process that beings with at 47-question application with sample itineraries and client references, then continues with phone interviews and, in most cases, road-testing by Conde Nast Traveler staff. Those who unnecessarily book trips through pricey middlemen (as opposed to directly with local hotels and suppliers) or use on-site contacts that charge exorbitant rates are disqualified....

I receive hundreds of letters annually from readers reporting back on their trips that were arranged by these travel planners. Any specialist who is the object of valid complaints is removed from the list." –Wendy Perrin

And the picks from Brownell are....

Panama and Recommended Generalist
Meg McGriff North

North, who can pull strings with Panama’s top resorts and inns, enjoys arranging exclusive experiences such as an “up close and personal” view of the ships transiting the Panama Canal’s locks-including a private tutorial on how the giant gates are controlled- and a visit to a family-owned coffee farm where you can enjoy a brew that North calls “the best coffee in the world” (205-414-1653; megn@brownelltravel.com; http://www.brownelltravel.com/)

Germany
Marion Harbison

Harbison spends two weeks a year in her native Germany, where she used to be a travel agent. Not only can she point you toward the country’s less-visited castles, regional specialty snacks, and colorful small-town festivals but she can get you into private wineries and local events you won’t find on the Internet. (423-894-9001; marion@sterlingtvl.com; http://www.sterlingbrownell.com/)

Alaska
Margret Propper

Propper has been to Alaska 43 times- and in every season of the year. She’s driven the backroads, taken the scenic trains, flown on bush planes to remote Eskimo villages, sussed out the most atmospheric lodges and B&Bs, and tested a wide range of local adventure outfitters (for glacier dog-sledding, kayaking among the whales, hot-air ballooning, etc.) to determine which offer the most authentic experiences at the lowest price. She’s also cruised on ships large and small, taken every shore excursion, and figured out the best ways to combine days at sea with days on land. (800-999-3690; margretp@brownelltravel.com; http://www.brownelltravel.com/)

Rocky Mountains
Caroline Wood

Having grown up in Yellowstone National Park with a dad who is still a seasonal ranger for the Park Service, Wood has incomparable knowledge of the driving routes, the lodge and ranches (and their views, beds, and meals), and they best locales and outfitters for horseback riding, white-water rafting, ballooning, or whatever other activity you’ve got in mind in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. (406-624-6976; carolinewood@brownelltravel.com; http://www.brownelltravel.com/)

Europe: River Cruises
Margret Propper

Propper, who once lived within walking distance of the Danube and is fluent in German, has spent the past decade cruising all of Europe’s great rivers, from the Douro in Portugal to the Volga in Russia. She can find the waterway and boat best suited to your needs, advise you on how to spend days on land, and arrange unusual shore excursions, such as a visit to a private dacha in Russia (800-999-3960; margretp@brownelltravel.com; http://www.brownelltravel.com/).

Large Affordable Ships
Linda Allen
Stretching your dollar as far as it can go is Allen’s priority. What we love most is her honesty about potential drawbacks of each ship and her nifty tips for minimizing theses and for saving money on board. Use Allen for Celebrity, Holland America, Princes, and Royal Caribbean sailings (800-422-3445; cruisesbylinda@cox.net; http://www.brownelltravel.com/).

Visit our website at http://www.brownelltravel.com/ to learn about all of our luxury travel experts, or contact any of our specialists above to learn more about exceptional travel experiences.

Babymoon: Hotel St. Barth Isle de France

2009-07-16T10:53:00.020-05:00

by Emily Menendez

I am due in just a few weeks with our first baby! For the past 9 months, my husband and I have been madly preparing--everything from painting the nursery to dealing with a plethora of new emotions (mainly mine!). So, a few months back, we decided that one of the best things we could do for our marriage and our adjustment was to get away and spend some time together! Our last vacation before kids dominate the scene for the next 20 years-whew. So, we found ourselves on the picture perfect Caribbean island of St. Barth's, at a stunning property-Hotel St. Barth Isle de France. A luxury beach vacation experience to say the least!

We flew into St. Martin and caught a ferry into St. Barth's on Thursday afternoon. The ferry is not for those with weak stomachs! After 45 minutes of a wild roller coaster ride, we arrived on St. Barth's and met our driver who took us to the hotel. Hotel St. Barth Isle De France is truly stunning. The decor is clean and simple, mostly white, and our room was appointed in a similar fashion. We had a beach room on the upper level (which I would recommend, the upper level afforded more privacy) that looked over the pool and out towards the ocean. It was a perfect fit for us, but the other rooms on property were worth a look! We took a tour soon after we arrived while sipping on (virgin-or at least mine was) fruity drinks. All of the accomodations are picturesque, although those with beach views (as opposed to garden rooms) are certainly more desirable. The 4 new beach suites are heavenly! Extremely private and luxurious and situated right on the sand, each suite has a private plunge pool and deck overlooking the ocean.

After taking in the resort--one quaint restaurant and pool, a Molton Brown spa, a fitness room(very small and no windows), we settled into our accomodations for the next few days.

Although the resort was perfect for relaxation, it was quickly apparent that we would want to rent a car to see the island, visit other beaches, and escape the steep prices of food at the resort restaurant. (A fair warning--St. Barths does not have agriculture, so all the food on the island is imported and almost everything is extremely expensive!) So, we made the proper arrangements before getting in a little beach time and then cleaning up for a delicious dinner downstairs.

Friday morning we slept in and enjoyed one of my favorite parts about Isle de France--breakfast on our porch. You could not have a more picturesque view while enjoying fabulous French pastries and coffee for breakfast--excellent way to begin our day. We took advantage of the beach for a bit before heading out to explore. The beach on the resort is private and relaxing, but it is located on the Atlantic side of the island, making the winds and waves pretty extreme--you will bake before you know it!

Here is the view from our porch:

Our rental car, a smart car, was perfect for moving around the hilly island. We found the main town of Gustavia-a haven for luxury shopping!!!!- and stopped to pick up some items at the grocery for a picnic lunch. This turned out to be our favorite routine over the next few days, and far more affordable! The food at the local grocery was delicious--we chose fresh cheese, breads and fruits and were off to another beach on the island. We discovered a beach on the far end of the island that is only accesible by foot. We parked the car and enjoyed a little hike to a secluded section of calm and pristine beach--a little slice of heaven. This was our favorite spot on Saturday and Sunday as well!

We hit up the town of Gustavia for dinner that night--Le Select--a burger bar that is supposedly the spot that Jimmy Buffet sings about in his song "Cheeseburger in Paradise." Its not hard to see why! Maybe it was just pregnancy, but it was one of the best burgers Ive ever had! After some window shopping and enjoying the town, we headed back to crash for the night in our luxurious bed.

Saturday and Sunday included more of the same--Seeing the island in our funny looking smart car, spending time on our favorite stretch of beach and finding new spots to eat on the island. We also took time to tour Eden Rock, in St. Jean. An absolutely incredible property--it is set out over a huge rock (Eden rock) on a beautiful bay. I was blown away by everything about the property, and it seems quite the happening place, within walking distance of a number of restaurants in St. Jean and a incorporates a bit more of the tourist culture. Equally as luxurious, but not as private a feel as our spot at Hotel St. Barth Isle de France. One thing worth noting, though, was their new Rock Star Villa, designed for just that, rock stars. It is $20,000 per night in peak season and includes a room designed as a recording studio, beautiful accomodations for the entire entourage, and enough space to host a party like you would only see on lifestyles of the rich and famous. Just imagine entire rooms and bathrooms covered in mother of pearl and white gold--but somehow not tacky in the least. If you go, you need to try to take a peak--that is, if there isn't a special guest staying there!

We made sure to get in some good time on our own beach on the last day and sample more delicious fruity drinks (my husband drank while I only sampled :(. And we completed our time with another fantastic dinner in the Isle de France restaurant. Delicious!

Monday morning, we were back on the ferry, a bit calmer this time, and on to St. Martin to catch our flight. Our time was relaxing and provided exactly what we needed--time together, away from the stresses of every day life and the soon to come baby. I am so thankful that we did this, especially as I quickly approach my due date. We took the time and set aside the money to invest in our relationship, and that is so hard to do with all the demands of home, and it is only going to get harder! I hope that we can always take this kind of time away-life is too important not to invest quality time in such rich shared experiences.

To learn more about luxury beach vacations or the island of St. Barth, contact a Brownell Caribbean travel advisor or visit our website.

Passports: Information and Tips

2009-07-09T09:21:00.000-05:00

by Clayton Trotter

This year in the travel industry seems to be a big year to travel abroad. Lots of clients want to take their families on the “trip of a lifetime”. Right now is the best time to travel. There are lots of deals out there and the travel advisors at Brownell are happy to help. There is one rule you MUST follow is you are going to travel abroad – you HAVE to have a passport.

I have worked in the travel industry for 3 years now and I am never surprised by some of the questions I get asked…the most recent being “Do I need a passport to go to Canada?”
Yes, you do. I know Canada is part of North America and borders the USA to the north. But Canada is an entirely different country than the US and if you want to go there, you’ve got to have a passport.

Getting a passport is actually really easy. You can contact your local travel advisor to help you or you can go to your local post office. The post office has several different passport forms – new passports, renewing passports, changing a name, etc. You will need to determine what type of form to fill out for your passport and then submit. The forms are extremely easy to understand and state exactly what you will need in order to get your passport. Adult passports are for people 16 and older. They don’t expire for 10 years. Children’s passports expire after 5 years. If your child has a passport and is under 16, be sure to check your child’s passport before traveling. A lot of people forget a child’s passport only lasts for 5 years and then are stuck running around like crazy trying to get it renewed. Believe it or not, babies also require a passport when traveling overseas. I know it seems crazy for a baby to have a passport that lasts for 5 years considering they look completely different from year to year. But if you plan a family vacation and a baby is going, they better have a passport.

For those of you reading this and don’t have a passport – go and get one! You never know when traveling abroad could arise and you want to be prepared. How awful would it be if you were offered to travel with your company to France for a week and you couldn’t go because you didn’t have a passport? One last thing to know about having a passport is that it must be valid 6 months AFTER you return from being out of the country. For instance, if you return back to the US after visiting Italy on June 6, 2009 your passport must be valid through December 6, 2009 or later. If it expires before then, go ahead and get it renewed before you trip. It’s better to spend the money getting it renewed then sitting at the airline gate and not being allowed on the plane.

For additional details, go to travel.state.gov for more passport and travel information, or you can contact any of our travel advisors!

Top 10 Reasons to use a Travel Advisor

2009-07-07T15:04:00.004-05:00

We get it. We’ve dried enough tears, put out enough fires, and cleaned up enough messes for well-intentioned, but misguided travelers to understand the value of using a travel advisor. The list of reasons to use a travel advisor is never-ending, but we especially like this list of 10 put together by Ruthanne Terraro, editor of Luxury Travel Advisor magazine.

1. You've Googled "Mexico vacation," and come up with 17.8 million responses. Need a little help editing those choices?

2. Remember when you used that obscure website to book your hotel, and when you got there you spent your beach vacation overlooking a parking lot?

3. How many hours were you on hold with the airline when your flight was canceled because of a snowstorm?

4. Did you really mean to spend your honeymoon at that resort whose one tiny pool was filled all day with 12 screaming children?

5. Who knew that when you booked that "villa" in Tuscany, it would be a small room with a kitchenette and no air conditioning? Funny, it looked much better on your computer screen.

6. No one explained to you that in July, it's winter time in Rio, and so you showed up there with nothing but five Hawaiian shirts and three pairs of swimming trunks.

7. How about the time you really needed a restful vacation, and you ended up in New Orleans during Mardi Gras and someone threw up on your shoes?

8. Yes, I guess that hotel must have used a telephoto lens when they took a picture of those guest rooms that you saw on their website.

9. I suppose contacting the Attorney General to resolve the fact that that Internet site has billed your credit card three times instead of once is the only route to take at this point.

10. It was definitely odd that there were no cab drivers at the airport at 3 o'clock in the morning when you finally landed in Costa Rica, but booking a transfer to your very remote hotel would have been a good thing to remember when you purchased your airline ticket and hotel online.

To learn more about Brownell Travel and our team of expert travel advisors, visit our website at www.brownelltravel.com.

Amelia Island, Florida: Southern Charm Meets Coastal Paradise

2009-07-01T08:47:00.011-05:00

Katherine Gould is travel advisor for Sterling Brownell. She has been with her family to Amelia Island and shares about her fabulous time below!

I just returned from a ten day stay on Amelia Island, which is located 30 miles north of Jacksonville, Florida. It’s been on my radar screen for years, so I was anxious to check it out for myself and for my clients. Given the relative ease of getting there and the fact that the island is known to be very family friendly, my husband and I brought along our two small children. Our first stop was the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island, and it did not disappoint! The service, grounds, dining, spa and activities were fantastic. The service in particular exceeded my expectations in every way. I can’t think of anywhere I’ve visited in recent years with such an attentive and friendly staff. From the moment we arrived, I felt like a “VIP!” Additionally, my children were treated as special guests and pampered throughout their stay. The Ritz embraces its youngest guests in remarkable ways I’ve never encountered before at a five star resort. They seem to have thought of everything - a baby pool shallow enough for the littlest ones, yet filled with entertaining fountains for older toddlers, a fantastic Ritz Kids Camp, and daily activities such as a treasure hunt or hunting for sharks teeth on the beach are just some of the many ways the Ritz caters to children. Our most memorable experience was the pirate tuck-in we arranged. At bedtime, there was a knock on our door. “Princess Amelia,” a pirate and a real parrot entered our room to read the children a bedtime story, and deliver cookies and other special gifts. My son and daughter loved it! I decided to upgrade to a Club Level room, and I can honestly say it was worth every penny. Located on the top floor, the elegant yet informal lounge offers four different food presentations daily (all of which were excellent) along with unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. My family ate breakfast and lunch daily there - a big savings when you consider what it would cost to eat each of those meals in one of the hotel’s restaurants. Additionally, there was a wonderful children’s room adjacent to the Club lounge, which was loaded with toys, children’s videos and comfortable spots for littles ones to relax.

Dining at the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island was top notch. Salt, their signature oceanfront restaurant, delivered one of the best meals I’ve eaten in a very long time. It was a great spot for my husband and me to spend some adults-only time in an elegant setting. I also particularly liked Cafe 4750 for it’s casual atmosphere and lighter fare. Diners can choose to eat in the restaurant’s lively main dining room or the spacious, outdoor verandah overlooking the ocean.

The spa is brand new and quite impressive. Over 27,000 square feet in size, it offers a wide array of spa services in a tranquil and chic environment. Also worth mentioning is the outdoor spa pool - adults only and blissfully peaceful. Envision plush towels, special pillows and plentiful attendants to cater to your every whim. It was an amazing, adults-only haven! More than anything, however, I found the Ritz to be such an incredible place because of the outstanding service. It was truly “five star” in every way and made our stay so wonderful. Whether you’re seeking a romantic get-away or a fun-filled family vacation, the Ritz Amelia Island has the right accommodations, programs, facilities and dining options for you. My next stop was Amelia Island Plantation, a 1,350 acre resort and residential community just a few minutes down the road from the Ritz. The Plantation is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal waterway, and its vast size translates into numerous accommodation choices for visitors lucky enough to enter its beautiful grounds. Known for its environmental consciousness, the resort has done an amazing job of preserving the coastal vegetation and habitat . I was most struck by the magestic live oaks draped in Spanish moss, which thrive everywhere on property.
I selected a two bedroom oceanview villa for my family. It was well-equipped, spacious and offered fantastic ocean views from our sizable balcony. Having a kitchen and our own washer and dryer was particularly helpful when traveling with little children. Outdoor locations to soak up the sun are plentiful by anyone’s standards. I really liked having the ability to choose where I’d spend my time each day. My personal favorite spots included the Beach Club pool, the beach in front of our villa complex, and the pool at our villa complex. Amelia Island Plantation offers a vast array of activities for its guests. With 72 holes of championship golf available, golf lovers will find themselves in paradise! 23 tennis courts, miles of walking, jogging and biking trails, numerous swimming pools, a children’s park, and a well equipped Health & Fitness Center are just some of the many options offered.

One of the highlights of our stay was a morning spent bike riding as a family. My husband and son opted for a “ride along” bike, and I pulled my daughter in a comfortable trailer. We had such a great time exploring Amelia Island Plantation’s beautiful scenery! I highly recommend renting a golf cart for at least a portion of your stay. Known locally as “Island Hoppers,” they provide convenient transportation and a fun way to see the resort. Trams run regularly as well, but I preferred having the flexibility to come and go without waiting for a tram to come by. Amelia Island Plantation offers numerous dining options on property. My dinner at PLaE (which stands for ”People Laughing And Eating”) was my favorite. The atmosphere and food was excellent. Additionally, I was a big fan of the Marche Burette, a small deli and grocery store which offers oven brick pizzas, gourmet soups, and sandwiches for lunch and dinner. The Friday night Boardwalk Bash there was particularly fun - my children loved the free buttery popcorn, and my husband and I enjoyed the $1 beers. Live music completed the event, which was packed with guests and residents.

The children’s program at the resort is well-organized and offers a variety of great experiences. My son spent one morning at Kids Camp Amelia and loved the games, crafts and pool time spent with other children his own age. ”Just For Kids” evening theme parties for ages 3-10 are offered every weekend in the summertime as well. Amelia Island is a great option for families and couples alike. The miles of wide, unspoiled beaches and excellent resort choices offer something for everyone. Even better is the ease of getting there - a welcome respite from lengthier and often more hectic international travel. If you’re looking for true southern charm in a tropical setting, it’s an ideal spot for you!

To learn more about Amelia Island and traveling with kids, contact Katherine! To learn more about the family travel oportunities available through Sterling Brownell, visit our website.

A Look in the Past: Abroad in 1929

2009-06-11T10:34:00.015-05:00

Brownell was founded in 1887. Amy and Edwin VanDeusen were some of our earliest travel advisors, guiding trips for Brownell in the 1920s. Marjorie VanDeusen was their daughter and was fortunate to spend some wonderful time traveling with her parents. We recently ran across this wonderful synopsis of their trip in 1929 and wanted to share! Enjoy the old photos and memories!

Marjorie VanDeusens Trip Abroad in 1929

When Marjorie was 12, the family took a trip together – to Europe, Scandinavia and North Africa.

The VanDeusens crossed the Atlantic on The Baltic, one of the ships in the White Star Line. It’s likely, though not certain, that the photographs below were taken at the beginning of their trip – on the way from New York to Europe.

Above: Amy, Edwin and Marjorie on the ocean liner, The Baltic, 1929.
Below: Marjorie playing “deck tennis” on The Baltic, 1929.

Below: More Pictures of Marjorie enjoying the transAtlantic trip on The Baltic, 1929.

Once they had crossed the ocean, Edwin and Amy VanDeusen led separate tours, as they did most summers. Marjorie traveled with her mother around Europe. In the photograph below, they are seated in the back of the tour bus.

One of their stops in the summer of 1929 was Venice. While there, Marjorie fed the pigeons.

It appears that Marjorie and her mother also visited Scandinavia that summer. The Prins Olav was probably the ship that took them there.

Below is the menu for their “Many Happy Returns Dinner” on July 23, 1929. On the left side of the menu is the Norwegian mountain, Romsdalshorn.

The amusing “poem” that follows was written on the other side of the above menu. The Prins Olav was one of the ships made by the Nordenfjeldske Steamship Company (abbreviated NFDS). The Prins Olav was built in 1907 and was seaworthy until 1940 when it sank.

When the summer was over, Marjorie and Amy met Edwin in Europe and the whole family traveled to North Africa. The VanDuesens crossed the Mediterranean Sea – from Genoa, Italy to Alexandria, Egypt – on one of the steamships of the Sitmar line.

The “Lista Passeggeiri” shows that their ship left on October 3, 1929 (in European fashion, listed as 3-10-1929). Listed alphabetically are the passengers on the ship that day, October 3, 1929. “Sig.r Van Deusen e famiglia” appears in the right hand column near the bottom of the page.Before making the trip abroad, Marjorie had received permission from the principal of her school to take the fall semester off. Rather than study, she did such educationally exciting things as riding camels and visiting the pyramids in Egypt.

By then it was October of 1929. Marjorie remembers hearing about the stock market crash while they were on that trip.

Below: Amy and Marjorie riding camels near the pyramids in 1929.

Below: Marjorie on a camel, 1929.

It’s hard to imagine a more interesting way to spend a portion of one’s twelfth year of life than traveling to so many fascinating parts of the world.

To learn more about Brownell travel advisors or our travel history of over 120 years, visit our website at www.brownelltravel.com.

Travel Specialists - What Does it Take?

2009-06-04T13:46:00.007-05:00

by Emily Menendez

Does my travel agent really know their stuff? A fair question and one you should ask! These days you can book travel on your own--finding a tour group or a package online and click on a few buttons, then voila! You are on your way. Right? Well, not exactly.

Aside from the hassle and research you are going to go through and still not really know what you just purchased and whether or not that cruise line or airline or tour company is going to actually come through for you, the big problem for me is that you never talked to anyone who has actually been where you want to go!

And that is the main reason I love where I work-(yes, this is a shameless plug here for Brownell Travel)-our travel advisors are true experts! They have been there and they have experienced whatever there is to experience. How do I know? I am responsible each year for our destination specialist application and selection process--that’s right, every year, our agents have to actually prove that they know all there is to know about a destination before we tout them as specialists! I thought it would be worthwhile to give a little run down of what this process looks like and how our agents qualify:

First, a massive application goes out to all of our advisors. They have to apply for the categories where they want to be listed as specialists. And they can only choose so many, because we all know you can’t be an expert in everything. So they have narrowed it down to the places they really know. All of these applications roll in at once and my project begins! I evaluate every single applicant for every single destination based on a number of factors:

Travel: Have they been there? They must have traveled there personally over the past 2 years. Stopping through for a few hours doesn't count. The advisor must have true destination knowledge that is current!

Training: As a top Virtuoso travel agency we have partnerships with all the premier properties and tour companies all over the world. Our advisors are expected to keep current with knowledge on all of the properties and possibilities for travel in the destinations they specialize in. So, we look at the training they have done--are they really on top of things?

Clients: Have they sent anyone there? Do they have clients that trust them with this destination? They must have recent-within the last year-production to qualify here. We must know that this is somewhere they send clients regularly, and that their clients trust them with their vacation experiences in this destination.

Manager Oversight: As though the above weren’t enough, our team of owners and managers review every advisor that I recommend to be listed for each destination (We have just finished this phase of the process!). They have the final say if our agents qualify--and they work with them every day, so they KNOW who knows their stuff!

So, once you have made it past the flaming arrows, crossed the sulfur lake, and defeated the dragon, you can finally qualify to be listed as a specialist for the destinations you love. This is obviously difficult to maintain and our advisors work extremely hard to be true experts. I can't speak for other travel agencies, but I know first hand that Brownell Travel advisors are experts--I have spent way too many hours reviewing everyone’s credentials!

So, what does it take? See above. Then visit our website, choose a destination, and click on any name listed in that destination, since you know they all know their stuff.

(A group of Brownell travel advisors in Kenya this March)

Travel in France: Provence Villas

2009-05-28T16:33:00.007-05:00

Catherine Whitworth is a luxury travel advisor for Sterling Brownell. She is a specialist in France travel and has just returned from Provence. Read on for a quick snapshot of her experiences.

I recently had the privilege of traveling in France, and visiting incredible villas throughout Provence.
I visited 26 villas which are a part of Kevin Abell's handpicked group of villas in the South of France. The company is " A Season Away" which offers 3 weeks to 3 month rentals in Italy, France and New Zealand. His main goal is to make you feel like a local, not a tourist.

A Season Away uses local Villa hosts to give clients an insider track and act as a gentle guiding hand by introducing them to local shopkeepers, taking them to lunch, and providing them with valuable insider information for the best the region has to offer. We had a private France wine tour in a vineyard (one of Paul McCartney's favorites), and among other things, visited truffle and olive oil sources. They provide a customized regional guide for their clients.

The villas were selected for appeal and comfort. They were beautiful, just what you imagine you would have for a villa in the South of France, or Italy. Most are already taken for the 2009 summer season. So take a look at 2010 as soon as possible.

My experience was incredible and I really enjoyed seeing all of these magnificent properties in Provence. Travel in France will never be the same!

Catherine Whitworth is a luxury travel advisor for Sterling Brownell. She is a specialist in France travel. Contact Catherine to learn more about travel experiences throughout France.

Amazing Australia Experience

2009-05-28T16:19:00.010-05:00

Catherine Whitworth is an independent travel advisor for Sterling Brownell. She has recently spent time in Australia. Here are a few quick insights into her amazing experience!

I had the privilege of visiting 2 very interesting destinations recently, Australia, and Villas in Provence, France. I will write more about France soon. Here is a brief highlight of my amazing time traveling through Australia.

In Australia we began in the North. In Darwin, we had a private behind the scenes visit to Paspaley Pearls, the leading supplier of top rated South Ses Pearls. The pearls were beautiful!
We visited the remote Kimberly coast in close proximity to where the film Australia was filmed. We visited the Barossa and Clare Valley- a leading culinary and wine region. We stayed at a new 5 star hotel on Kangaroo Island called South Ocean Lodge and it is indeed a 5 star especially the spa. We saw kangaroos, wallabies, kualas, amazing birds, crocodiles,manatees, goannas, dingoe, buffalo, seals, and not one snake. We shot skeet, rode ATV's on a sheep ranch, found beautiful seashells on deserted beaches, flew in helicopters, hiked to see aboriginal rock art on remote cliffs, coursed over swamplands, ran our hands in boxes of valuable south sea pearls, saw rings on Saturn with an astronomer from the Parkes Observatory, sailed in Sydney Harbor, fished Barramundi, and sampled some of the finest wines and food I have ever seen.

We ended in Sydney. What a beautiful city! (I am including all links below to the places we stayed.) My greatest impression of Australia was the people. To a person, they were funny, happy, delighted to see us, laid back, easy, and everything was "no worries". I was struck by the feeling of warmth and safety I felt everywhere we went.

Australia is only 12 hours from San Fransisco. I had no idea it was that close- about the same time from Rome to Atlanta. This country has so much to offer beyond the excitements of Sydney, Melbourne, the Great Barrier Reef and Ayers Rock. Its beauty, richness, and friendliness are truly impressive. It a destination with amazing diversity, and I cannot wait to go back.

Check out some of the places we stayed! They were all incredible.
http://www.bulloriver.com/
http://www.farawaybay.com.au/

http://www.angorichinastation.com/

http://www.thelouise.com.au/

http://www.southernoceanlodge.com.au/

http://www.burrawangwest.com.au/

To contact Catherine, click here. Visit our site for more information about travel in Australia!

Checklist for Packing for an African Safari

2009-05-21T11:21:00.008-05:00

Haisley Smith and 5 other Brownell travel advisors have recently returned from an African safari! Haisley shares below her great advice for the perfect checklist for packing for an African safari.

The number one question our travelers ask in advance of their trip to Africa isn’t, “Will I see a lion,” or “Is it safe to travel to Africa?” It’s, “What should I pack?!?!?!” The African Travel Specialists of Brownell have developed this checklist for packing for an African Safari of 10-17 days.

Start with a soft-sided suitcase that you don’t mind getting dusty. Most East Africa safari touring companies ask that your suitcase not exceed 30lbs, due to weight requirements for in-country flights, but this can vary.

UNDERGARMENTS or “Smalls” – 4 to 6 pairs
The staffs of most camps and lodges will not launder your underthings, even on the most luxurious and best African safaris, so be sure to pack enough for 4-6 days. Almost all camps and lodges provide a basin and washing powder for you to wash your own.

PANTS 2-3 Pair
We recommend quick-dry pants that can be unzipped into shorts. It’s often cool when you start out on your morning game drive, but temperatures can heat up quickly. You may also want to pack a pair of blue jeans, especially if your travel plans include a safari by horseback.
SHORTS 1-2 Pair
If you invest in a pair of “convertible” pants that zip off into shorts, you may not need to pack any shorts.

TOPS 3-6
A mix of sleeveless shirts, t-shirts and quick-dry, vented long-sleeve shirts will prepare you for all conditions. The quick-dry sleeveless shirts are great for cool morning game drives and for keeping the sun off your arms and back in the afternoons. Sleeveless shirts and T-shirts are perfect for staying cool in the late afternoon and evenings. Mix and match and you won’t have to repeat an ensemble the entire duration of your African safari!
SHOES 1-2 Pair
Sturdy walking or hiking shoes are key. We recommend Chaco, Keen and The North Face. You may also want to pack a small, light pair of sandals for dinner in the evenings.

ACCESSORIES
Women may want to pack a light scarf or two to protect their neck and shoulders from sun, and to dress up evening dinner wear. Leave jewelry, perfume, and your hand bag at home, but DO bring a small backpack or camera bag to pack your essentials (sunscreen, camera equipment, chapstick and cash) for game drives and excursions.

ETC
Leave the high-tech gadgets (blackberry’s, iPhones, gameboys, kindles, etc) at home – or at least in your suitcase until the plane ride home! Who wants to be distracted by electronics, when you have much better, and much more beautiful distractions waiting for you around every turn. Plus, electricity is a precious commodity in the camps and lodges. Many run on solar power, or generators that are switched off during the day and overnight.

Visit Haisley's profile. Learn more about travel in Africa. See our checklist for packing for an African Safari on our website!

Luggage Language

2009-05-15T12:57:00.010-05:00

by Clayton Trotter

Ok – we’ve all been there. You’ve spent months planning the perfect vacation and everything is in order. Dog at vet – check; Lights on – check; bags packed – check.

You’re at the airport, made it through security and have even been upgraded to first class. The flight was on time and so far your trip could not be any better. You head to baggage claim to grab your bag and continue on your perfect vacation. You get to the luggage carousel and watch as suitcase after suitcase passes you by. Before you know it, there are no more bags are on the carousel and dread flows over you – “Did the airline lose my bag?”

Well I’m here to tell you it happens a lot and it has happened to me – twice in the last year. It’s the worst feeling possible when you are going on vacation, accompanied by the horrible thoughts that pop into your head – “Will I ever see those brand new Prada shoes I just bought?” “Where did my luggage end up?” “What if someone else has my bag and sees all my sexy underwear?” Since I’ve had the privilege of losing my luggage twice, I’m sharing my reasons for opting to carry-on my luggage rather than checking it. And if you are one of those people that MUST check your luggage, then I will give you some tips on what to carry-on in case your luggage gets lost.

Top Reasons to Carry-On:
1. It won’t get lost. Everything for your trip is in your tiny suitcase right above your head. It’s not going anywhere unless the suitcase handle is wrapped up in your hand. So now you won’t be standing at the luggage carousel with that blank look on your face thinking “what happened to my luggage?"

2. You’ll pack lightly. By carrying-on you won’t pack as much stuff in your suitcase. So those 8 pairs of shoes you thought you needed for that 4 day trip – not going to happen. Now I know some of you are thinking: “What about all my purses that I MUST pack to go with all my shoes? Will all that fit into a carry-on?” In a word – NO.

3. To follow up with #2 – you can take two carry-on bags. I know for most women the other carry-on is a purse. But as I have learned, you can pack a rolling suitcase with all your clothes, shoes, under garments and more, then put your make-up, books and a purse in an over-the-shoulder bag to put underneath your seat. It’s easily accessible and everything you will need for your trip stays right there with you.

However, if you are the type of traveler who has to pack the 7 pairs of shoes, 4 purses and 8 different outfits because you need options – then I have some tips on what to take in your carry-on, just in case your luggage gets lost.

Toiletries – always take your make-up and toiletry items in your carry-on. There’s nothing worse than being away from home and not having your make-up or at least a toothbrush. Shampoo, conditioner, lotion and other bathroom items can be purchased while on vacation, but I would rather not spend my first day on vacation scouring the Wal-Mart aisles in Mexico looking for the exact shampoo and conditioner I use to keep my hair from drying out.Extra underwear – now I know what some of you are thinking “What the??” but I promise it is the best idea. If you lose your luggage, you can wear what you have on for a few days (that is if you don’t spill ketchup on your white pants while devouring that Wendy’s airport hamburger) and still feel clean because you have fresh panties.

Wear nice clothes on the airplane. I know most people want to be comfortable on an airplane, but those yoga pants people sport around in does not cut if you have a meeting or a date in your final destination. I suggest wearing NICE pants, shirt and comfortable shoes that you can slip on and off. This way if your luggage is lost at least you will look cute for the next few days.

Need a refresher on what is and isn't allowed in your carry-on? Or wondering how much they are going to charge for that second bag full of shoes you just have to check? Visit our website for a list of all the luggage policies and guidelines for each airline: http://www.brownelltravel.com/luggagepolicies.html.

Clayton Trotter is a leisure sales and marketing assistant for Brownell Travel. Feel free to contact her by clicking here. Learn more about Brownell and how we can help with any travel needs by visiting our website: www.brownelltravel.com.

"Catered Tots:" Our Top Picks for Kid-Friendly Luxury Resorts

2009-05-13T09:38:00.009-05:00

by Haisley Smith

The Brownell travel advisors put their heads together on this one to suggest the top resorts for family travel! These resorts cater to kids and mom and dad for an all-round excellent family experience. For more info, contact Haisley Smith or any of our family travel advisors.

Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman
Far and away our number one choice for families. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman worked with sea legend Jean-Michel Cousteau to create a truly mind-blowing children’s program. Kids ages 4 to 18 can explore the natural jungle gym of mangroves via pontoon boats and dive 100 feet below the ocean’s surface in the properties submarine to get a close look at sea life. The resort has also launched a videography project so kids can film their adventures and the sea life they encounter while snorkeling. All the programs are superbly supervised by hip and engaging staff, but the experience is so spectacular parents often tag along.

Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is often the most overlooked and underrated island in the Caribbean. There are activities and adventures galore for children and a kids club that allows the parents plenty of time for relaxation and rejuvenation. The “Iguana Club” at the Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa has everything from half-day to full-day to “parent’s evening out,” options. Not just babysitting – the club has fascinating programs for kids ages 4-12 including iguana feedings, Jibaro arts & crafts, and a cookie-making fiesta. Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa is also just steps from El Yunque Natural Forrest – the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. Forest System. Guests can take eco-walks through the trails and discover hundreds of species of wildlife.

Inn at Palmetto Bluff
Bluffton, SC
The Inn at Palmetto Bluff is home to two incredible multi-tiered tree houses and more activities than you can shake a fishing pole at. The staff can arrange for family fishing, crabbing, shrimping, kayaking, horseback riding and canoeing. The accommodations at Inn at Palmetto Bluff are suitable (and superb) for families of all sizes. You can reserve 2, 3 and 4-bedroom homes or single rooms in the Inn. Most families find having a kitchen or kitchenette helps save money as well!

The Cloister at Sea Island
Sea Island, Georgia
The Cloisters has long been THE destination for posh tots, but the newly built resort with state-of-the-art children’s center, beach and movie theater, and children’s beach activity are absolutely mind-blowing. As if that’s not enough to keep even the most active toddlers and tweens occupied – the resort offers tailored programs for different age groups. Camp Cloister has directed activities centered around a new theme each day (pirates, frogs, fish, birds) for kids age 3 -12. Club Sea Island is for pre-teens, ages 9-12 ready for a little more adventure such as ocean kayaking. These are just a fraction of the activities The Cloister at Sea Island offers making it the perfect respite for multi-generational families.

Four Seasons Aviara
North San Diego, California
The location, facilities and diverse programs at Four Seasons Aviara make it a great option for families traveling with babies, toddlers, tweens, teenagers and special-needs kids. With just a little advance warning, the resort can arrange for special meals (gluten-free, peanut-free, low-sugar, etc.) and family outings to nearby Lego Land, Sea World or San Diego Zoo. The complimentary “Kids for All Seasons” program takes kids ages 4-12 on an afternoon walk to a wildlife preserve to learn about endangered species and conservation. On the way back, they stop by the life-sized teepee for story-telling and games. Post lunch, the activities continue with kite flying, soccer, frisbee, kickball and scavenger hunts. And the proverbial cherry on top? Room service delivers oven-warm cookies and milk at bedtime.

Hotel San Pietro
Amalfi Coast, Italy
This family-owned, five-star hotel is ideal for family travelers who want more of a resort feel, with easy access to Positano. Unlike other hotels in the area, Hotel San Pietro has a private beach, tennis courts and excursion boat. Families with small children will find Hotel San Pietro a welcome respite from the crowds in Positano. The general manager of the hotel makes every effort to accommodate each of their visiting families with personal touches and family-specific recommendations.

Ready to take the family or want more suggestions? Contact Haisley, or visit our website and click on family travel to see our specialists!

San Francisco-Girls Getaway!

2009-05-05T14:32:00.028-05:00

Brittany Bingham is a travel advisor for Sterling Brownell, and has just returned from the perfect girls birthday getaway in San Francisco! Read below about her experiences.

I guess I am in the right business since I love to travel! When any of my friends want to have a weekend getaway, and they call me, I just can’t say no. Well this “weekend” planning started way back when my friend Sarah told me she and Chris, now her fiance, were going to San Francisco and she wanted me to help her, and gave me a list…..

About two days later I got a call, “Chris said no, will you go with me?” I started looking at flights and bought my ticket before she did! We tried to round up a few of the other girls to make this a birthday celebration for Sarah, but had no takers. Come April we were off to Ol’ San Fran.

Day 1: Checked into Hotel Monaco, went to bed.

Day 2: We were up with the birds, literally, and on our way to Alcatraz. Here we took the early bird tour which I highly recommend because even on a Thursday that place is crowded! From there we ventured to Fisherman’s Warf bought some knickknacks and walked down to Scoma’s, for what Sarah called a “white linen” table cloth lunch (which it was) we had mussels, yummy crab risotto, and some lovely wine! Next on the list was Ghirardelli Square, talk about some chocolate. I have never been more excited than when I ordered my Dark Chocolate Espresso mound of joy!! If that wasn’t enough, we kept going down to Beach where we found Buena Vista and their famous Irish coffee. I was pretty pumped about this one because my dad had been there years ago for an Irish coffee himself. I had just one, he said he had a few more than that!!

Don’t worry by this time the “girl” in us came out and we needed to SHOP! We walked until we hit the Union Street Shops. Picked up a few things in the boutiques and headed back to the hotel.

Day 3: I'd like to think that we got up to go for a run since we put on our workout clothes, but in reality we explored Union Square and got some breakfast. After getting changed we headed to the house on the hill, The Ritz Carlton, and talk about the place to be! We were met by Greg, our wonderful sales manager and taken to Club Level. There was some hustle and bustle in this hotel, including the Secret Service, and I don’t think they were there to protect Sarah and me! After a wonderful site inspection through San Francisco’s only 5 Diamond hotel, we were off on our own again. At Sarah’s request, Chinatown. It seems that in 2009 scarves are "in," and where else do you get some but Chinatown-for $5! Next we headed to lunch to get some authentic Chinese, and hit a Rachel Ray $40 a Day spot, not bad and I don’t like Chinese food (but Sarah does!!). After we mapped out the rest of our day we picked up the cable car and headed out. Now this is fun! I had to ride hanging off the side! We hopped off at Lombard St. saw the curviest road around, and walked the steps of Filbert St, the steepest street around.

Then we kept walking trying to find a bus tour…..and kept walking and walking and walking, then we waited and waited and waited (outside a KFC who now serves grilled chicken) and waited. After all that, what could make us feel better than more shopping! We took the bus into Union Square and spent the next 3 hours on a new wardrobe!! On our way back to the Ritz we stopped for some sushi to reboot!

The Ritz Carlton really rolled out the red carpet--no surprise! Brownell is part of a special program, so our clients always get VIP treatment. Waiting for us in our room were rose petals and a chocolate treat for Sarah to celebrate her 26th!! We powdered our noses and went to the Club lounge for a glass, or 2, of champagne. We even saw a few famous faces before we took the town car to Top of the Mark. What a view of the city and as Sarah said 100 times over, “look there’s Alcatraz,” which you could actually see! After a shared bottle of champagne and watching some dancing we headed back for some shut eye.

Day 4: Who doesn’t hate to leave the Ritz, but it was time to go to another world, Haight St. Ahh, the days of hippies; I think I was a flower child in my past life! We walked up and down going in and out of stores and caught a bite to eat (Sarah got fish tacos she had been wanting) before catching the bus. Over the Golden Gate Bridge we went!

Next was Cavallo Point- amazing! This was an old Army base on Ft. Baker that just closed in 1994 and was turned into a lodge at the base of the bridge. WHAT VIEWS! We really wish we had stayed a day longer so that we could have taken a hike or bike ride. After checking into our bay view room, with a fireplace, we found we had missed the bus to Sausalito. Our new friend Ralph became our private tour guide, he drove us up to the top of the cliff to get a breathtaking view of the Golden Gate Bridge--we felt like we could reach out and touch it. Along with this gorgeous scenery we got a bit of a history lesson on the army base! We finally made it to Sausalito, and talk about heavenly, this quaint town sits next to the water and the houses escalate up the hillside. In my little world, this is just perfect! And if you want the BEST sushi around, go to Sushi Ran, it was well worth the wait and the wine! Again we missed the bus and had a driver come pick us up!

Being our last night we found ourselves in Farley’s Bar for some local beers and espresso martini’s. And Sarah wondered why she was wired all night!

Day 5: Up with the birds again for a fabulous breakfast in Cavallo Point’s restaurant, the only Michelin star restaurant in Sausalito. We had our taxi driver take the scenic route to the airport, so we got our ride along the Pacific and caught the little boxes on the hillside before our trip had to end.

Coming from the South and East coast, the West is a different world! But Sarah and I both loved it, the people are great, the food is great, and the sights are incredible!

To learn more about travel to San Francisco, contact Brittany by clicking here! Or contact one of our California travel specialists. To learn more about Sterling Brownell, visit our website at www.sterlingbrownell.com.

Spring Break Cruise!

2009-04-30T09:29:00.009-05:00

Debbie Fairvalley is the director of sales for Sterling Brownell. She has recently returned from a spring break cruising adventure!

What do you get when you put 5 15 year old girls, 5 moms, and 1700 teenagers on a Royal Caribbean Spring Break cruise???? POOPED MOMS!!!

I had the wonderful experience of escorting my daughter, Wallis, and some of her closest friends to Cozumel and Belize on a recent Royal Caribbean cruise. The Navigator of the Seas departed Ft. Lauderdale on April 6 – full to capacity- with families seeking sun and fun on the high seas. And our girls found just what they were looking for…..wonderful stories, new friendships, Facebook boyfriends, and a general “whoop it up good time”!
Thank goodness for balcony staterooms that provided our only calm respite from the storm of Spring Break madness. Cocktails were delightful, being shared by myself and the other 4 moms wanting a break from sensory overload found throughout this large floating vessel. We would retire to our staterooms prior to dinner to relax, unwind, and plot our strategy for outwitting 5 15 year-olds determined to “lose” us whenever possible. The ship was actually quite nice (all 1,500 rooms of it) and if someone was bored, it was their own fault. From the twice daily shows (including an ice show that was better than I have seen on land), the basketball/volleyball/dodge ball competitions, teen nightclubs, huge casino, putt putt, ice skating, video arcade, fitness center, and rock climbing wall, I certainly needed the spa to recoup. The food (buffets) was plentiful and average….Ahhhhh, but the drinks were superb! Margaritas to pina coladas (all in those lovely souvenier glasses) tasted quite nice sitting by a crowded pool listening to reggae and steel drum music. The highlight was the DISCO night complete with RCCL’s own Village People – what a fun performance and even our daughters participated in the action! Karaoke night was magical that evening as the Delta Dawn Disco Divas (my group) took the stage and WOW’d the crowd to a standing ovation….They had also experienced those lovely pool drinks all day!
A trip to Senor Frogs in Cozumel gave us all a peek into the not so distant future of our 15 year old girls as college spring break is only 4 short years away…..UGGH! The snorkeling at Chakaunab State Park is unbelievable – right off the beach you can see incredible species of fish (take some of the bread off the ship) and watch them nibble your fingers… Our other shore excursion in Belize was wonderful, and made me want to spend more time on travel in Central and South America. We took a 1 hour van ride from the port up into the rain forest at Jaguar Paw and hitched ourselves to zip lines (with the help of some of the cutest young Central American fellows) and flew from tree to tree – a truly exhilarating experience! After our flights landed, we were whisked off to the caves for a tubing adventure in the underground rivers. We were handed an inner tube, helmet w/head light, and a quick orientation about the caves, bats, and other “creatures” that might be living there. Oh boy, I can’t wait…..I didn’t even ask if Belize had any water snakes in their country – sometimes I like to be uninformed! We hopped into our tubes and into the 68 degree water and began our float – trying desperately to stay in contact with our fearless leader/guide. At times the caves were completely dark except for the lights from our little headlamps – which was probably a good thing…..Only once, did I feel anything moving under me in the water (but I quickly kicked that smartie pants teenager in the leg, so situation averted)! This truly was a fun experience and something I can now cross off my list of things to do….
Lunch back at Jaguar Paw in a jungle setting complete with monkey, lemurs, and parrots made us aware we were not in Atlanta anymore!

Cost of RCCL cruise = $1,000 per person
Cocktails & Soft drinks 300 per person
Mother/Daughter Bonding Experience = Priceless!!!!!

To contact Debbie, click here. To learn more about cruising, spring break travel, or travel to Central and South America, visit our website by clicking here.

Vail Spring Skiing

2009-04-27T13:21:00.009-05:00

Debbie Fairvalley is the director of sales for Sterling Brownell. She is also an avid skiier and has recently traveled to Colorado to catch the end of the ski season. Read on about her experiences below!

If there was ever any doubt of which mountain reigns supreme as the Best Ski Mountain in North America, that question was answered on my recent trip to Vail! I was lucky enough to land in Eagle/Vail on Thursday, March 26 (expecting to find typical Spring slushy conditions) and was greeted by over 32 inches of fresh snow that had begun to fall on Monday…. A quick 20 minute Colorado Mountain express van to Beaver Creek had me in my hotel room in time for lunch! I stayed at the Pines Lodge (a lovely Austrian feeling Rockresorts hotel that is ski in from the Beaver Creek runs) http://www.pineslodge.rockresorts.com/ The minute you arrive in the lobby you feel as though you have been transported to a quaint little Swiss hotel in the Alps. The views from the dining room feature vistas of the whole front range of mountains. The rooms are comfortable and offer nice roomy (newly renovated bathrooms). With it’s great location in Beaver Creek and nice walk to the Village and Mountain Base, this is an excellent value for those more budget conscious. It also has some quite attractive golf packages for the summer season! There is a (small) pool and hot tub (with waterfall) and ski rental shop located in the back off the lobby area.

The food is very good and the 1 restaurant serves breakfast, lunch & dinner. The setting is completed by a warm wood burning fireplace that welcomes you in the afternoon with hot cider, hot chocolate, tea, and coffee (not to mention some of the best toffee cookies I have ever put in my mouth). There is shuttle service to all other Beaver Creek resorts and activity areas – so no need for a car while on property. Day 2 had me on the slopes of Beaver Creek. This is a great mountain for intermediate skiers with lots of cruising runs that allow you plenty of time to ski at your own pace. They groom this mountain beautifully and cater to those “resort” skiers. They have also added a wonderful kids activity center/lunch stop on the mountain called the Spruce Saddle. We had cocktails here and it features great healthy food even adults would love! There are flat screen televisions all around the dining area (the ski instructors use this as a teaching tool with the ski school students – what a great idea!) Beaver Creek has a Torchlight Parade every Thursday night that is a great way for kids to meet other kids and ski down the mountain under the moonlight. Not a bad site to watch from below (sipping a hot toddy by the huge fire pit) either.

The village of Beaver Creek is centered around a large ice skating rink which is a gathering place for après ski and offers many dining options and shopping options for the whole family. Focus on FAMILY!

There are two other properties in Beaver Creek (in addition to the Ritz Carlton – Bachelor Gulch) that should be on your radar for future ski trips: The Snow Cloud (located in Bachelor Gulch) and The Osprey in the Village. Both of these properties are true ski in/ski out at located right at a chair lift that transports you to the top of the mountain.

The Snow Cloud is a condominium property offering 1 to 4 bedroom units that are HUGE and totally 5 star in their décor. It is a stone’s throw from the Ritz and very similar in appearance. The designer furnishings and touches make this a wonderful home away from home The 4 bedroom can easily accommodate 3 families (bunk rooms w/ 4 beds are perfect for the kids)!

The Osprey is a newly renovated property at the base of Strawberry Lift and would appeal to more hip, urban young families and couples. They call their intimate lobby area a living room and it truly feels that way….from the comfy mid century sofas to the WII video games playing on one of the TVs, you feel as though you can relax and just enjoy conversation areas. There is a 60’s looking fireplace in the living room with lots of ultra cool lounge lighting in the bar area. A continental breakfast is served daily and included in the rate. Many of the guestrooms feature a contemporary glass burning fireplace (very Palm Springs) and subtle chic cool colors in the linen. High tech glossy bathrooms make this property feel as though it could be in Miami Beach, until you look out your window and see skiers swishing down the mountain. I got a very positive response from guests staying here and they loved it!

One other great accommodation for families or small groups is Trapper’s Cabin. This is a true log cabin – accessible only by snow cat. This remote cabin is a true experience! The privacy is matched only by the beautiful woodsy décor. I happened to meet (by chance) a client of Alysia Hopper’s on the chair lift who was actually staying in Trappers Cabin and was loving it! In fact he was ready to confirm it for 2010….

Day 3 we were able to take a snowmobile tour out of Minturn area (arranged by Vail Resorts). What an experience this was…..4 hours, 36 miles, and one very sore thumb later I can truthfully say it was a wild ride! We were able to view an area where the 10th Mountain Infantry ( a World War II ski division ) trained called Camp Hale. In fact, my father in law was part of this group in WWII and trained here. It was very neat to see the remains of the artillery range, huts, and buildings actually used in 1940. The original developer of Vail Mountain was a 10th Mountain man…..so historically this was very interesting. Dinner this evening was at Beano’s Cabin – a NOT TO BE MISSED experience on the mountain in Beaver Creek. The snow cat ride from the base to Beano’s was enhanced by a full moon and howling wolves/coyotes on our journey. Once you arrive at Beano’s you are met by 3 resident porcupine greeters and escorted into a beautiful cabin with lots of open beams and a huge stone fireplace. The atmosphere was topped only by the cuisine. Wonderful game, fresh trout, and superb steaks are on the menu. But save room for the fantastic desserts…. A soothing guitar player offered the evening’s entertainment and by the end of the night – I wanted to forgo my snow cat ride back down the mountain for a warm place by the fire. Every couple should experience the romance of this place! Day 4 We decided to hop a local bus (from Beaver Creek Village) to ski Vail for the day and I am so glad I did. Vail represents a long family tradition (my in laws skied Vail in the 60’s – my husband learned to ski here as a child - and my two kids are graduates of Vail Ski School (where they learned to carve turns better than Peekabo Street!) They also went on to compete in NASTAR races in Salt Lake City so I feel the quality of instructors in Vail are superior to any other ski resort in the country.

Vail is a mountain for EVERYONE from beginners to double black experts! And the place is HUGE! If you were here for a week, you couldn’t ski all the terrain offered on this mountain. There are plenty of groomed runs for the basic skier, nice moguls for the younger knees, and back country natural bowls that allow you to ski without seeing anyone all day. We started off in China Bowl ( a nice open bowl featuring lots of blue runs) and by afternoon were ready to tackle Big Sky Basin and some of the Back Bowls. This was spectacular! Even as a terminal intermediate skier I was able to ski in/out of trees and experience the thrill of fresh powder up to my knees! Two Elk Restaurant is a great lunch stop with gourmet fare similar to Deer Valley. It gets very crowded for lunch so eating off hours allows you to grab food and find easy seating (with views beyond compare).

We were the last ones off the mountain on Day 4 – not wanting this “rush” to end but knew we would return next season in search of fresh powder…..

To learn more about ski travel or family ski trips, contact Debbie by clicking here!

Australia Travel with Ouback Encounter

2009-04-20T14:39:00.009-05:00

Meg North is a Brownell travel advisor and an Australia travel specialist on a 2 week journey through Australia! Read below for an update on her journey's thus far:

It is now Tuesday morning here at Burrawang West Station. We have had blast over the past week--it is hard to believe we have experienced so much of the great continent of Australia! After our time here we will be flying to Sydney for a short stay and then headed home. I must say I am nowhere near ready!

Last week after an incredible experience at Faraway Bay, we flew to Adelaide in South Australia on Wednesday and spent a night in the Hyatt Regency. The hotel was lovely, situated over the River Torrens, with very comfortable accomodations and welcoming staff.

Thursday morning we got on our transfer to Flinders Ranges and toured the Barossa Valley enroute, and did site inspections of both The Louise and Atrium. The Barossa Valley is a beautiful wine region, with abundant vineyards for producing delicious wine!

The Louise is situated in the heart of the wine country, and is completely luxurious. They only have 15 suites and offer a very intimate experience with all the amenities of home. They are known for their restaurant, Appellation, and of course their wines!

Atrium is a private vineyard residence--only one party or 6 guests at a time! This is an experience unlike any other-completly private, overlooks the entire valley and set under a canopy of eucalpt trees. We really enjoyed getting to check it out.

We arrived Thursday afternoon at Angorichina Station--our home for the next two days. Angorichina is in the Flinders Ranges--a unique landscape made by an ancient seabed that is now full of wildlife, and interesting rocky landscape. We spent time wildlife watching, seeing aboriginal rock art and walking in the bush. The red landscape is really remarkable to see. The station itself is beautiful-somewhat of an oasis. A real highlight was seeing the outback sheep station that has been at work there for 4 generations!

On Saturday we made our way back to Adelaide and flew to Kingscote, Kangaroo Island and were taken to Southern Ocean Lodge. Kangaroo Island is Australias third largest island and it is full of incredible wildlife and area to explore! The lodge is extremely luxurious and beautiful. It is situated on a cliff, looking over the Southern Ocean and the wilderness. We did not miss a beat here and enjoyed everything from walks along the cliff to visiting a colony of sea lions and watching kangaroos!

After two nights at Southern Ocean Lodge we came here to Burrawang West Station, which is our last stop before Sydney and saying goodbye to our friends from Outback Encounter. Burrawang is a completely different feel and I am looking forward to experiencing more of it today. It is located in Central New South Wales and is a fully operational cattle station--producing Burrawang Beef. The terrain is full of beautiful pastures. The accomodations are boutique lodges--all creatively and luxuriously appointed and the dining is fabulous. Very relaxing way to close out our trip, but still plenty to explore!

We will head home at the end of the week--what an adventure it has been!

Learn more about travel to Austraila. Contact Meg North.

Australia with Outback Encounter

2009-04-13T16:06:00.011-05:00

Meg North is a Brownell travel advisor and an Australia travel specialist on a 2 week journey through Australia! Read below for an update on her journey's thus far:

It is early Tuesday morning here in Australia. We have not stopped since the beginning of our journey and we will be off to partake in more adventure in just an hour or so! I hope to write more, but here is a quick snapshot of the journey thus far.

Last Thursday we boarded our plane for Brisbane and arrived after a long long flight at Darwin to be greeted by Drew Kluska, with Outback Encounter. After a brief pit stop, we lost no time getting started with our travel in Australia. We had a chance to meet Richard McLean, Senior Advisor for Pealrling at Paspaley Pearls in Darwin. He took us through an incredible afternoon tour of the jewellery workshop, pearl grading room and showroom. Who knew the process was so detailed and facinating!? After the tour, we made our way back to Mantra on the Esplanade--our home for the next 2 nights. Here is a shot of the hotel and the view from the rooms over the ocean at sunset--so peaceful.

On Friday morning, after a much needed nights sleep, we had a quick breakfast and then headed out for exploring. We spent half the day with Sab Lord, an incredible guide to the culture and land ( he spent his entire life here and has gained access to restricted areas because of his relationships with many of the Aboriginal clans) and half the day traveling by helicopter. Both experiences are incredible. We stopped halfway through for lunch at Bamurru plains. The plains in and of themselves were an experience:

On Saturday we made our way back to Darwin airport and boarded our private charter flight our next destination, Bullo River Station, in the Northern Territory near the border of Western Australia, where we spent Saturday and Sunday nights. The resort is incredible--very characteristic of the land and beautiful.

We spent our time there engaging with all the Station activities...there is abundant wildlife to be seen, and things to experience. They offer everything from cruising on the Bullo River Gorge to look for crocodiles, expeditons to examing aboriginal rock art, fishing, bull catching, horse riding, helicopter tours, cultural tours, etc. We packed in everything we could!

We left Bullo River Station Monday morning and arrived at our next stop for 2 nights--Faraway Bay. Farway Bay is a bush camp in Western Australia. It is in the wilderness, but definitly has all the comforts of home and fantastic food! There can only be 12 guest at any time, so we are having such a private experience. And the location is beautiful--the property looks over an incredible bay lined by cliffs.

We are off to experience more at Faraway Bay today...will write more soon detailing our time. So far, travel through Australia has completely surpassed our expectations!

Contact Australia specialist and luxury travel advisor, Meg North. Learn more aobut travel to Australia!

African Safari in Kenya

2009-04-06T16:41:00.010-05:00

Sally May is a luxury travel advisor for Brownell Travel. She details below her incredible experience in Africa last month.

Kenya has always evoked memories of 'Out of Africa', Karen Blixen, the Maasai Mara, and Hemingway style private tented camps. We experienced them all. This was a sensational safari filled with large herds of wildlife, visits to private homes and exotic island retreats.

After a quick overnight at the infamous Norfolk hotel in Nairobi, we flew to Laragai House located on Borana Ranch; a private conservancy in the heart of the Laikipia region. This is a private home located in the footlhills of Mt Kenya(which we toured by helicopter) with fireplaces in all the bedrooms, an infinity pool and a deck with views of the escarpment. It was a great way to start the Safari!After a tour of the Lewa Wilderness Trails area, we took an adventurous drive to Tassia, a community lodge which sprawls over a rocky bluff overlooking the plains and hills of the northern Frontier. We also visited a working Samburu village, which was certainly a highlight.

Next to Sarara Lodge in the Mathews Mountains, where we visited the "Singing Wells". As the Samburu warriors pass the water up from the Sand river they sing out ancient work songs in praise of their cattle and of brave deeds. A truly remarkable experience that I will always remember vividly, eventhough NO photographs have every been allowed there. Below is a shot of the Sarara Lodge, where we stayed for a memorable few days:We also spent 2 nights in a private mobile camp in the Maasai Mara where we had the most deluxe tents you've every seen-complete with solar powered bedside lamps, flush toilets, hot bucket showers, dressing tables with running water, and a tent boy who arrived with wine in the evening and hot coffee in the morning. A hot air balloon at dawn was a highlight. Also, one night we visited a Maasai village where they held a jumping contest- a spectacular cultural experience.

After our time in the Mara, we took a one hour flight to Lamu Island and a dhow(wooden sailing vessel) ride to Peponi Hotel, which is one of the 'great little hotels of the world" located in the Indian Ocean. Still relatively unspoiled, this tiny island is Kenya's oldest living city and a fascinating place to explore and experience the country's ancient Swahili and Islamic cultures. Men still wear full length white robes, the women are draped in the black purdah and donkeys are the sole means of transportation. We also experienced a wonderful visit to Manda Bay -a coral island - and had lunch at Kiwayu Safari Lodge.

To end the trip, we spent a day in Dubai, which was not nearly enough! I will have to write about that again, since it was a journey in and of itself. Suffice it to say we had a blast--here we are at the end of our time there:

To learn more about safari travel or travel in Africa, contact Sally May by clicking here. To find out more about the travel advisors at Brownell Travel, click here.

The Mexican Riviera: Mexico's Hot Spot

2009-04-06T15:01:00.008-05:00

Katherine Gould is a luxury travel advisor for Sterling Brownell. Read below about her wonderful experience in the Mexican Riviera.

I just returned from a fantastic visit to the Riviera Maya. Otherwise known as the Mexican Riviera, this beautiful stretch of Caribbean coastline is conveniently located 45 minutes south of the Cancun airport. The area is a hot bed of upscale, all-inclusive resorts and several luxury, boutique properties popular with honeymooners and families alike.

My first stop was Occidental’s luxury property, Royal Hideaway. It’s the world’s first adults-only, all-inclusive resort to earn the prestigious AAA 5-Diamond Award. The concept of a luxury, all-inclusive property with gourmet food intrigued me, which is the main reason why I selected to stay at the resort.
View from an Oceanview room at Royal Hideaway

Upon arrival, my husband and I entered the elegant lobby and were greeted with cool, fresh scented hand towels and bubbling glasses of champagne. After receiving a helpful overview of the resort and its amenities, we were escorted to our oceanview room. I found the rooms to be on the small side but very sophisticated and well-appointed. I recommend requesting a room in one of the buildings closest to the beach, as Royal Hideaway has a stunning, beach-front pool area where we spent most of our time.
Pool area at Royal Hideaway

Visitors should be aware that the town of Playacar where Royal Hideaway is located has suffered significant beach erosion as a result of hurricanes. At the moment, there is very little beach and many sandbags scattered along the surf. I was informed prior to arrival and therefore wasn’t surprised by the appearance of the beach. The Mexican government is apparently working on a plan to fix the problem long-term, which is good news for Royal Hideaway and its neighbors along that stretch of beach. In the meantime, however, Royal Hideaway’s chic infinity pools (yes, there are two of them!), attentive poolside staff, beachfront restaurant, and lively atmosphere more than made up for the lack of sand.

Royal Hideaway's Lobby

The promise of gourmet food coupled with a large emphasis on service proved to be true. Royal Hideaway delivered superb dining night after night. My personal favorite spots were the signature restaurant, Las Ventanas and Japanese inspired Azia. Additionally, I thoroughly enjoyed lunch at The Deck, a casual bar and grill located right on the ocean.
Royal Hideaway's grounds

Royal Hideaway’s attention to detail and emphasis on customer service was apparent throughout our stay. I was especially impressed by the personal concierge assigned to each building on property. Ricardo greeted us by name each day, wanting to know what he could do to be of assistance. The staff at the pool was eager to bring us drinks whenever we wanted, our room was always cleaned in a timely manner, and the waiters at all of the restaurants were knowledgable and friendly. Additionally, the grounds were quite beautiful and well-maintained. So if you’re looking for an all-inclusive property that truly delivers on luxury, Royal Hideaway is the ideal choice for you!

My next stop: Rosewood Mayakoba, which is spectacular in every way. For travelers who’ve experienced Rosewood’s other Caribbean properties (Caneel Bay, Little Dix Bay, Jumby Bay), you will not be disappointed! I would describe Rosewood Mayakoba as a “wow” property - one of those spots you can’t stop talking about when you return home. Everything exceeded my expectations: the architecture, service, rooms, grounds, dining, and pool/beach services were among the best I’ve experienced anywhere.
Rooms along the lagoon at Rosewood Mayakoba

Rosewood Mayakoba is situated along a mile-long stretch of beautiful beach, but it’s honestly not the beach that makes the resort so special. I found the 20 acres of clear lagoons bordered by mangrove jungle to be unique, serene and beautiful. The resort’s architecture is a contemporary-Mexican style, specially designed to blend in with the natural coastal environment. My husband and I opted to stay in the lead-in Lagoon Suite category, and we were more than surprised by its size, luxuriousness and views of the lagoon and surrounding mangroves. The ride to our suite via an elegant private boat was just the beginning. Upon arrival , we quickly discovered that our large suite featured a vast lagoon-side terrace with inviting plunge pool, rooftop sundeck and a bathroom not to be forgotten. In addition to a lovely, outdoor garden shower, it came fully equipped with an enormous circular tub which was transformed into a fantasy of bubbles and flower petals each evening by our personal butler.
Lagoon Suite at Rosewood Mayakoba

Golf carts driven by plentiful staff members circle the property on a regular basis, so guests have no trouble finding a ride to their desired destination when they need one. However, the grounds were so pretty that my husband and I often opted to travel by foot. It was a pleasant walk or ride to the beach area, complete with a “hopping” beach bar/restaurant, infinity pool and fully equipped children’s facility. Back towards the main lobby was an equally appealing atmosphere. I particularly enjoyed the serenity of the pool, which is overlooked by the main dining area. Additionally, Azul is not to be missed. It’s a chic raw bar and “tequila library” which serves excellent ceviche and cocktails, as well as a vast selection of Mexican tequilas.
Beachside pool area at Rosewood Mayakoba

For spa lovers, Sense, a Rosewood Spa, is sure to please. The 17,000 square foot facility is blissfully located on a separate “island” within the hotel’s grounds. Guests enjoy a wide array of complimentary amenities when they book a spa treatment, including access to a heated pool, juice bar, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, cold plunge pool and relaxation areas. A fully equipped gym is also available for all guests to utilize, should they be able to drag themselves away from their suite or the beach to burn a few calories.
Evening at Rosewood Mayakoba

From rooms to service to dining to scenery, Rosewood Mayakoba is a step above the rest. Equally unique is the fact that the resort is a great choice not only for couples seeking a romantic getaway, but also for families. Families of all shapes and size will find themselves very much at home due to the spacious accommodations, attentive staff and impressive children’s programs.
Beachfront Suite Terrace at Rosewood Mayakoba

For guests fortunate enough to experience it, Rosewood Mayakoba will call you back again and again. I am already counting down until my next visit….

To learn more about Sterling Brownell or travel to the Caribbean, contact Katherine by clicking here.