Sandals and Beaches Resorts

What Is – and Isn’t – Included in an All-Inclusive Vacation?

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It’s hard to not love the idea of an all-inclusive vacation. Arrive at your resort and everything you do from that point on is already included and you can just go about enjoying your vacation without giving a thought to paying for anything. Sounds pretty great right? Your accommodations, unlimited food, drinks, activities, and entertainment are all included in the booking price of the resort. Everything has been paid for in advance and you likely will have little to no need for your wallet throughout your trip.

But.

All *all-inclusive* resorts aren’t created equal, and they vary in the benefits they include in their vacation packages. And this is very important to know before you book because no one wants to arrive at their resort, expecting everything to be included, only to find out that a good bit of what you want to do – or eat – or drink -isn’t included and will come at an additional cost! Read more

Oceanview, Oceanfront, Beachfront: What is the Difference?

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Have you ever booked a room for a particular view, and then arrived to find out that the view is nothing like you expected?

Few things are more disappointing than looking forward to watching the waves with your morning coffee on your balcony every morning, only to find out that you have to stand on your balcony and lean……way……over…..the…..edge…..in order to actually see the ocean. (Plus that’s not very safe either!)

If what you see when you look outside is a priority for your vacation, making sure you book the right “view” category is important. Especially if you’re traveling to a tropical island for a bucket list vacation – where you may be expecting to see turquoise waters from your balcony – you’ll want to know what those room descriptions mean.

Oceanview. Oceanfront. Beachfront.

They all mean the same thing, right? Read more

Christmas in July – Why You Need to Book Your Holiday Travel Now

Nancy Christmas Holidays, Disney Vacation Planning, Great US Destinations, Sandals and Beaches Resorts, Universal Orlando Resort, What to Do at Disney World , , , , , , , 0 Comment
Christmas trees at the Grand Floridian Resort at Walt Disney World.

Merry Christmas! It’s July, so it’s the perfect time to start thinking about the holiday season, right?

(And I’m not talking about buying all your Christmas gifts now – although there’s nothing wrong if you want to do that….).

Nope, it’s time to plan your holiday travel. Because while the early bird generally always gets the worm when it comes to travel, that’s even more true this year than usual. And here’s why. Read more

Vacation Souvenirs You’ll Always Treasure

Nancy Aulani a Disney Resort and Spa, Cruise Planning, Disney Vacation Planning, Disney Vacation Tips, Great US Destinations, Sandals and Beaches Resorts, Saving Money on Souvenirs, Universal Orlando Resort, Vacations Around the World , , , , 0 Comment
Yes I bring an extra empty suitcase on vacation and this is why.

I may be what my husband calls a “souvenir junkie” – but not in the way you think. I just feel that vacation souvenirs deserve more attention than a random ‘grab-a-quick-chochki-in-the-hotel-gift-shop’ type of attention. Because once you get home and recover from your PTD (post-trip-depression, which is totally a thing), having some truly special items that provide you with treasured vacation memories is worth more than whatever you spent on them.

I think that souvenirs deserve a little thought.

Over the years, we have accumulated a variety of interesting souvenirs, both when our daughter was young and on our own, and I can truly say that I pretty much know where, if not when, we got nearly all of them. Those souvenirs are packed with precious memories, and whether they were expensive or cheap, they’re pretty priceless at this point!

So what are some of the vacation souvenirs that have become our “past vacation” treasures? Read more

Tips From a TA: How to Prepare for Flying Right Now

Nancy Aulani a Disney Resort and Spa, COVID Travel Tips, Cruise Planning, Disney Vacation Planning, Great US Destinations, Sandals and Beaches Resorts, Universal Orlando Resort , , , , 0 Comment

Travel is back! And if you’re planning your first trip since the pandemic – especially if it’s the first time you’ll be flying – some of our experiences on our recent vacation to the American southwest will likely be helpful for you to know. Because when you know what to expect, you can be prepared! Read more