Iberostar Rose Hall Jamaica From a Travel Agent’s View
The Iberostar Rose Hall Jamaica offers clients three distinct resort properties within one location. Each of these properties caters to a different clientele, detailed below. This beach front resort is located just 20 minutes from Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport. There are great all inclusive features included with your stay at the resort: all meals, beverages, including alcoholic beverages, daily activities, gratuities and taxes, meals, nightly entertainment, non-motorized water sports, a kid’s club and snacks. The resort offers a casino, a music bar, and a convention center, with each resort offering nightly entertainment and its own theater. The spa offers many services including a wellness pool with several different whirlpools to choose from. They have different saunas to choose from, like the “Rustic Shower” and the “Swedish Shower”. The features that stood out to me during my visit to this resort were the shops and the library. All of the rooms are non smoking and the resort has a quiet relaxing feel, to just get away from it all.
The first resort at the Iberostar Rose Hall Jamaica is the Rose Hall Beach. This is the entry level property for budget minded families, such as not including free wireless or 24 hour room service. At Rose Hall Beach, guests have the choice of 6 bars, 2 buffet restaurants and 3 specialty restaurants. When guest chooses the Beach resort, they only have access to restaurants, activities and pools within Beach section.
The next step up the ladder is the family section called Rose Hall Suites. At the Suites, vacationers can choose from junior suite, ocean view junior suite, or ocean front junior suite accommodations. The Suites has 3 outdoor pools, 2 children’s pools, a lazy river, 6 bars, 2 buffet restaurants, and 4 specialty restaurants. There is 24 hour room service and concierge service and free internet in rooms and wireless internet in the lobby. When staying at the Suites, guests also have access to all the restaurants, bars and activities offered at the Beach.
The top rung is the adult’s only (age 21 and over) all suite Grand Hotel. Guests staying at the Grand Hotel have access to both the Suites and Beach properties. This resort offers its guests 4 pools, 6 bars, 2 buffet restaurants, and 4 specialty restaurants. The accommodations are very luxurious, with an option for ocean view or ocean front. All suites have a large balcony with both a hammock and a comfy couch. The exclusive services offered to guests staying at the Grand Hotel Rose Hall are butler service, pillow menu, complementary round of golf, and a wide range of classes including Yoga, Spinning, wine tasting, and dance.
This Iberostar Rose Hall is a wonderful property for an extended family to vacation together. Since you have one resort for adults only and two resorts for families and friends, it offers the seclusion that the adults may want and they can still enjoy spending time with other family members with children.
A Great Couples Retreat in Jamaica
The Couples Resort in Negril Jamaica was a wonderful resort to tour. Couples Resort is located on 18 acres of lush tropical gardens and a long private stretch of white sand beach. Our tour started in the open air lobby overlooking the inviting pool and the beach beyond with views of the crescent shaped Bloody Bay.
The Couples Resorts caters to couples only and has beautifully well appointed rooms for any romantic getaway or honeymoon. Each room has a view of the bay or the lush gardens with bold color décor and local artwork. All rooms have a patio or balcony with a quiet sitting area. The one bedroom suites offer a hammock for two on the patio or balcony. All accommodations have king size beds with flat panel TV’s and a wet bar stocked throughout your stay. The baths are very spacious with a tub or shower and the suites have a double vanity. All accommodations at Couples Negril are inviting and relaxing. The atmosphere is all about romance and privacy where couples can escape with each other in a very intimate setting.
The pool is a beautiful oasis with the white sand beach beyond. The pool bar is great for relaxing with other couples enjoying a cold tropical beverage. There are whirlpools adjoining the main pool and there is also a quieter pool near the water sports area that they use for the complementary scuba diving lessons that are included with the all inclusive feature. Couples Negril offers five different restaurants and four bars to choose from. The cuisine offered ranges from Jamaican, Caribbean, to Mediterranean and Asian and there is always plenty of food to choose from. The resort also offers shuttle service weekly to the renowned Margaritaville and downtown Negril for shopping excursions. Couples Negril also offers exchange privileges with its other Negril property, Couples Swept Away.
The beach at Couples Negril is private and offers many areas to lounge in the sun. For the guests who want to sun au natural the west side of the beach offers privacy. There is a large gym for anyone looking to keep up on their work out routine. The resort offers many classes from couples massage to yoga. There is a game room with slot machines. The spa at Couples Negril is inviting with its wonderful aromas and offers many different spa treatments both within the spa and also at tree house massage rooms overlooking the beach and tropical gardens.
From the moment I stepped on property, this resort was warm and inviting and would be a great romantic getaway for couples of all ages.
Darby Wojick
Darby’s Destinations
Sandy Haven Resort, Negril Jamaica from a travel agent’s view
Sandy Haven Resort is a quaint boutique hotel on seven mile beach in Negril, Jamaica. When you walk up to the open air reception desk you are warmly greeted by Heather the sales manager. Many times the owners Stephen and Antoinette Ueker are there to greet you. Once you check in they will bring you to one of the five categories of rooms at the property. You can choose from Superior Garden or Ocean View, a Junior Suite Garden or Ocean View or a Deluxe Ocean Front Room. I stayed in a Superior Room with Garden View. The room has two double beds or one king bed, with a flat screen TV, nice desk area and a wine cooler. The bathroom is very spacious; each has a large changing area with double sinks. The shower and commode are behind a separate door. The shower is a large tile enclosure with river rocks on the floor with a rain shower head. Each room has a private balcony or patio to enjoy.
The grounds of Sandy Haven Resort are lush and tropical. You have an intimate pool area between the two buildings with a large hot tub. Walk along the path to the outdoor breakfast deck, which overlooks the beach bar and seven mile beach and the Caribbean Sea beyond. The resort has a restaurant and bar area call Bongo’s where they have weekend entertainment. Sandy Haven Resort offers all inclusive and European plan meals. The resort is adults only and is very quiet and intimate for those who want to get away from it all but have access to a beautiful beach were you can stroll for miles. The beach area has comfy cabanas to rent if you want some shade from the Jamaican sun and plenty of lounge chairs right next to the beach bar.
Our stay at was very relaxing and enjoyable, I would recommend this resort for any client who wants an intimate luxury hotel right on seven mile beach Negril, Jamaica. To learn more about Sandy Haven and other great Negril resorts, contact Darby’s Destinations by calling 508-576-7495 or emailing me.
Darby Wojick
Darby’s Destinations
Negril, Jamaica the “Capital of Casual”
-
- Negril Jamaica
-
- Horseback riding on the beach in Negril
Negril, Jamaica is about an hour and 15 minutes from Jamaica’s Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The drive from Montego Bay brings you along the coast with many small villages like Lucea. The scenery is beautiful. You will see a wide array of typical Jamaican homes as well as million dollar villas to small boutique hotels to large luxury resorts. In Jamaica they drive on the left side of the road, not the “wrong” side of the road as we say here in the states and watch out for of the many goats grazing along the road sides.
Negril is nick named the “capital of casual” due to the laid back lifestyle of its residents. In Negril no building can be taller than the tallest palm tree and another note on Jamaica it has the most churches per square mile of any other Caribbean Island. There are two areas in Negril, seven mile beach and the West End Cliffs which is on Bloody Bay. In the seven mile beach area you can literally walk the whole stretch of seven miles of beach. Along the way there are many restaurants, shops, hotels and resorts. When you get thirsty stop in and have a Red Stripe Jamaican beer. When visiting the West End Cliffs, be sure to stop in at Rick’s Café a great bar and restaurant along the cliffs. At Rick’s you can watch cliff divers or take a leap into ocean yourself. The highest platform is at 35 feet but only the very experienced attempt this dive.
In Negril there are many hotels, small and large to choose from, that fit any type of vacation to any budget. I visited many resorts while I was there and in the next blogs I will give you some reviews of my favorites. If you are thinking of a trip to Negril, Jamaica, call or email me and I can help you plan your Jamaican escape.
Darby Wojick
Darby’s Destinations
Mansfield, MA-Based Travel Agent Joins Top Travel Industry Professionals at Dallas Conference
Darby Wojick at CoNexion conference in Dallas, Texas with Bill Tilburg and Sheena Robinson
Darby K Wojick Among Over 400 Travel Industry Professionals Attending Annual National Convention which included Numerous Training and Networking Events
Mansfield, MA October 11, 2012 – Darby K Wojick of Darby’s Destinations recently returned from Dallas, TX, after attending three full days of top-tier travel industry training and networking hosted by Nexion, the travel industry’s premier host travel agency. She was part of a group of only 400 out of roughly 100,000 U.S. travel industry professionals attending “CoNexion 2012,” held October 4-6, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency-Dallas at Reunion Tower. This year’s conference featured a multitude of interactive educational events specifically designed to enhance every aspect of a home-based travel agent’s business and help increase their success and customer satisfaction. The meeting theme was “Fire Up Your Future.”
“Dallas is a one-of-a-kind city full of big ideas, big fun, and Texas-sized southern hospitality. More importantly, CoNexion 2012 is a can’t-miss experience for me as a professional home-based travel agent. The education, ongoing training and networking opportunities presented are invaluable,” stated Wojick, who is an independent travel agent serving Mansfield and greater Boston travelers for the past 3 years. “I had the opportunity to really ‘fire up my future’ by attending keynote addresses by Vicki Freed of Royal Caribbean International and attending supplier presentations from Viking River Cruises and Marriott. I know now that I’ll be returning home able to serve my clients with even greater skill and passion than ever before.”
In addition to CoNexion’s general sessions, mini-sessions and trade show where Wojick spoke directly with many of the 80-plus travel industry suppliers on hand, she also attended a number of highly-specialized workshops; including Customer Service and Problem Resolution.
To tap into Wojick’s travel expertise, contact her at 508-576-7495 or online at http://www.darbysdestinations.com.
###
Darby’s Destinations specializes in creating memorable family celebration vacations for families of all sizes. I can save you time and money so you can have a memorable vacation with your family.
Contact: Darby Wojick
Darby’s Destinations
508-576-7495
darby@darbysdestinations.com
Darby Wojick of Darby’s Destinations SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE JAMAICA TRAVEL SPECIALIST, A ONE LOVE REWARDS PROGRAM
Mansfield, MA – September 27, 2012 – Darby Wojick of Darby’s Destinations has completed the Jamaica Travel Specialist, A One Love Rewards Program, the program of study approved by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB). Darby Wojick of Darby’s Destinations has gained knowledge of all that Jamaica has to offer her clients, from the resorts to activities and more.
In October, Darby Wojick of Darby’s Destinations will be participating in a Familiarization Tour with the Jamaica Tourist Board. This tour will consist of site inspections of several resorts in Montego Bay and Negril, Jamaica. She will also participate in activities that will be of interest to Darby’s Destinations clientele.
Road Trip to Charlotte, North Carolina
This summer I went on an adventure to Charlotte, North Carolina. It had been a while since I have driven farther than Maine or New Hampshire so I was excited about seeing the countryside south of New England from the passenger seat.
Our trip started out from Massachusetts heading west on the Mass Pike, then south to Hartford, Connecticut on Route 84, following this route into New York on into Pennsylvania. As many New Englanders know, driving south can be stressful, but we went the western route to avoid the very busy Route 95 corridor. As you are driving down Route 84 at the state border of New York and Pennsylvania, you pass over the mighty Hudson River. This was a beautiful site to see on a clear July day. The next big river you pass over is the Upper Delaware River; here you could see families sitting on the river’s edge enjoying the water.
Once you pass into Pennsylvania, you start to see the rolling hills and beautiful landscape, and soon make the turn south onto Interstate 81. This route takes you through the Pocono Mountain area of Pennsylvania. In the Pocono’s there are many family activities to enjoy from hiking, water fun and more. Hershey, PA is a great place to stop on the journey south. Hershey Park, just north of Harrisburg, PA is about a 6 to 7 hour drive from southeastern Massachusetts so it is not too far to drive in one day and a fun spot for the kids to look forward to visiting to generate those once-in-a-lifetime memories.
The next states you pass through on your road trip are Maryland and West Virginia before crossing into Virginia. There are many great sites to see along Interstate 81 in Virginia. The Blue Ridge Parkway near Roanoke, in the Shenandoah Valley is the most well known and popular. Along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Shenandoah National Park you can hike on part of the Appalachian Trail. A great historic hotel to stay at in this area is The George Washington, a Wyndham Grand Hotel in Winchester, VA. This classic hotel has all of the old world charm with great amenities. There is really cool indoor Roman bath style pool with large columns with hot tub adjacent to the hotel spa. In Winchester there is an excellent museum about Virginia’s well known Shenandoah Valley along with several Civil War battlefields.
Once you turn onto Interstate 77 you will soon enter North Carolina. Along this route you will see many fields, with cows and horses grazing and the mountains in the distance. As you get about 30 minutes north of Charlotte, you pass Lake Norman. This lake also known as the “inland sea” encompasses 32,475 acres with 520 miles of shoreline and is the largest man made lake in North Carolina. There are many great activities to enjoy at Lake Norman State Park.
Within the next half hour you will be in North Charlotte. A great hotel to stay at right off of Interstate 77 is the Drury Inn & Suites Northlake. This hotel is great for families; it has comfortable rooms, an indoor/outdoor pool and whirlpool, and several nearby restaurants and shopping. A great amenity here is the 5:30 Kickback, which is free food and beverages (including alcoholic) from 5:30 to 7:00 every night.
There will be more about the city of Charlotte, NC and the many fun things to do there in a future blog so stay tuned.
Darby Wojick
Darby’s Destinations
http://www.darbysdestinations.com
darby@darbysdestinations.com
