Category: vacations

5 Best Caribbean luxury resorts for 2017

by hotelsetc, posted in vacations

Caribbean all-inclusive resorts are the most popular vacation of choice for most North Americans and there is little to wonder about in this respect for most of them are blessed with fine weather, amazing food and world class facilities. That said, there is a gulf in difference between budget options and the more luxurious resorts making it difficult to choose the most ideal destination for your next trip.

From Mexico to Jamaica, Dominican Republic and back, here are the 5 best Caribbean all inclusive resorts for 2017:

Caribbean Vacation

Hyatt Zilara Cancun, Mexico

Mexico makes our list again and as you might expect with the Hyatt, this is a hotel of pure luxury. Offering a world class spa with ocean views, saunas, whirlpools and more, Hyatt is also one of the true masters when it comes to relaxation and pampering of any kind. Another highlight are the hammocks which adorn the balcony of every room and then the food which never fails to make feedback from satisfied customers.

Azul Sensatori, Jamaica

Seven Mile Beach is one of the finest in the world and it is here you will find the Azul Sensatori, one of the most incredible all-inclusive resorts in Negril, Jamaica. Sun baked and covered in white powdered sands, the beach is scintillating but then that’s not all the resort has to offer, for 120 deluxe rooms each have an incredible ocean view. And then there are the facilities, with onsite dance classes, cooking course, and the option of renting canoes or surf boards. Completing the rout, the Azul also has no less than six different restaurants.

Chic Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

There is a mansion in this resort, does that tell you what to expect? This is truly royalty and Chic Punta Cana is the essence of luxury. More than five bedrooms, a Jacuzzi, private pool and wine cellar make this one stand out. Aside from this there are another 300 rooms with green gardens and pools to accompany the variety of foods, from Japanese to Moroccan. Chic in Punta Cana is slightly expensive but worth every last dime.

Infinity Pool

Generations Riviera Maya, Mexico

Situtated in the Riviera Maya, Mexico, Generations finds itself on an isolated beach and has a unique selling point in that every suite has a personal butler. This really is one of the finest coastal sections in Mexico but there are also stunning infinity pools meaning you don’t even need to move from your suite to take a swim. Gourmet food is also a highlight and make Generations one of the best Caribbean all-inclusive resorts with a wide range of Mexican and Mediterranean foods on offer. Interestingly, the hotel also has a kids cooking club which is super fun.

Melia Nassau Beach, Bahamas

Melia is another luxury resort for rather wealthy and this richness extends to every part of the resort. There are two different areas, Baha Mar and Atlantis, but regardless of which one you decide upon,  the experience is just as unique as you might expect. With more than 600 rooms and a beautiful beach front setting, Melia Nassau Beach is one of the best Caribbean resorts for 2017.

You can find hotel discounts for all of the above Caribbean resorts on Hotels Etc.

Which Carribean Island Fits Your Dream Vacation?

by hotelsetc, posted in vacations

With thousands of islands in the world to choose from, it’s hard to ignore the beauty that is the Caribbean. A Caribbean vacation is a dream for friends, couples, and families looking for a place to relax, have fun, and enjoy everything under the sun. Not only does it offer lots of activities, but also thanks to plenty of hotel discounts that are usually floating around the web, there’s something to fit every budget.

Cayman Islands – Scuba Diving

In Cayman Islands, it’s impossible not to be in the sea because this is by far the best spot for scuba diving. Boasting more than 200 diving sites anyone with an itch to take a dive can take advantage of the underwater treasures.

British Virgin Islands – Sailing In Paradise

If you’re with people who are skeptical of getting in the water, the British Virgin Islands is your place and will keep you afloat. There’s nothing more exciting than being the person behind the sails and a trip here will teach you exactly how to do that.

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Jamaica – Kid Friendly

Jamaica, while filled with plenty of nightlife and adult activities, is one of the best Caribbean islands for families. There are plenty of resorts who cater to infants and older children and some, like the Franklin D. Resort and Spa, is a like a couple’s personal babysitter. As an inclusion in guests’ payments, kids get their own nanny to look after them while their tired-looking moms and dads are getting their much-needed pampering. Who doesn’t want to relax while knowing their children are in safe hands, right?

Dominican Republic – Adventure Awaits

Dominican Republic is the haven of adventurers. Those who are thrill-seekers can get their dose of adrenaline rush by doing activities such as zip lining, surfing, diving, rock climbing, canyoning, and more. You name it, they have it.

Aruba – Island City Life

If there’s a place that feels like a city in an island, it’s Aruba. Adults will enjoy unique mix of both urban and country feel that this destination has to offer and it also means there’s always something new to experience. Oranjestad, its capital town, is known for its shopping strips, bars and restaurants, casinos, golf courses, and spas that can entertain even the most demanding people.

Puerto Rico – No U.S. Passport Needed

U.S. history buffs have no reason not to bask in the best of Puerto Rico because any citizen can go here without a passport. Direct flights make it even more convenient and the same with Jamaica. If time travel is your thing, fly to Puerto Rico and visit Castillo San Felipe del Morro, and Castillo San Cristobal, which are two of the largest Spanish camps. San Juan Cathedral, located at the Old San Juan district, is also where the Ponce de Leon family’s ancestral house and burial site are located.

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Martinique – Low Budget and European

Fancy seeing France but don’t have the budget? You can go to Martinique instead. Although it’s located in the Caribbean, it’s still a part of France and therefore the architecture and even the language is very much French. Imagine Paris in an island. Yep, that’s it.

St. Lucia – Get Some Privacy

There’s a reason why St. Lucia is always mentioned in lists of the best places for a honeymoon – it’s vast landscape and layout of resorts make sure that the island never feels crowded. It’s also considered as one of the most beautiful Caribbean islands because of the rain forests and mountains found there. When it comes to privacy, this place is definitely the top choice for people who want to get away from the hustle and bustle.

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Packing for a Caribbean Vacation

by hotelsetc, posted in vacation, vacations

You’ve booked the flights, you’ve got a place to stay (thanks to those sweet hotel discounts you found online), and now all that stands in front of you and laying on the beach on your soon-to-be-fabulous Caribbean vacation is the dreaded thing we all try to put off as long as possible — packing. But, don’t worry too much about it, getting everything together and shoved into those old bags you still haven’t replaced won’t be nearly as hard as you might think. So take a breath, close your eyes, imagine yourself snorkeling with all kinds of different magical-looking fish, and let’s do this.

Packing for a Caribbean Vacation

Old bags with CAMERA

No Passport Needed

There are some interesting things you need to know about getting into the Caribbean as far as passports and visas go. First off, if you’re American and a full-fledged U.S. citizen, you don’t need to have a passport if you’re flying into Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, which includes the trifecta of St. John, St. Thomas, and St. Croix — the others require you to have more than basic U.S. IDs (driver’s license, etc.). If you’re hopping on a cruise, you can actually visit more of the islands without a passport, but be sure to double-check where you’re going before assuming you’re all good.

Caribbean Weather

Another important thing to thing to do before you start packing is familiarizing yourself with the weather happening for wherever and whenever you’re traveling in the Caribbean. There’s not a lot of major differences between the temperatures from one to the other and the average temperatures are around 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit most days, but depending on the month you’re traveling you might have more or less rain, which is a good to know. Brief showers happen nearly every day on most of the islands, too but not enough to pack any legit rain gear.

Vacation discount

Packing Light

It’s easier said than done, but thanks to the consistently hot climate, the Caribbean is a place where less is more. In fact, many people who are traveling for a week or less easily get away with packing a couple of carry-ons, wearing a light jacket, and keeping it simple. Depending on your needs (I know, shoes)  and length of stay you could easily get away with not checking any bags, which would also save you a lot of hassle and potential delays if you’re flying.

Your Itinerary Determines Your Needs

Are you planning on doing some hiking? You’ll need some active clothes and a pair of good rubber-soled shoes that can give you the support you need. Are you just going to lounge on the beach all day and drink cocktails? You can probably get away with packing not much more than a couple of swimsuit options, flip-flops, and one or two pairs of shorts or dresses to wear when you’re not listening to the waves. There’s no one perfect list for this since each trip is unique, but think through what you’ll be spending your time doing and pack accordingly.

Toiletries

Your toiletry needs will pretty much be the same, but you might want to throw in some extra sunscreen, lip balm, or aloe/lotion depending on your plans to get out into the wild or your skin tone. It’s going to be hot and sunny most of the time, so ease into it and remember, you can always get more sun the next day, but it’s hard to deal with a really bad sunburn.

Gadgets

Last, but definitely not least, don’t forget to pack in your cameras, selfie-sticks, GoPros, Kindles, or any other electronics that you feel like you can’t live without. You’ll probably want to keep the phone off as much as possible, but it’s your Caribbean vacation, not mine, so you can do whatever you want.

10 Travel hacks to help you choose the right vacation

by hotelsetc, posted in vacations

Vacations are fun but lets be honest, they are not always enjoyable to plan and often this can be for the fact that there are so many options. That said, maybe you just have no idea where to start? In that case you’ have come to the right places because we know exactly how to help you better decide on where to choose for that all important vacation.

Here are 10 travel hacks for your next vacation:

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1.Ask the question why
What is it about a vacation that gets you excited, are you thinking about how nice it will be to sit on an isolated beach? Don’t choose Cancun, it’s too busy. Choosing a destination begins with questions about why you are going, do you want to chill, take outdoor adventures, explore cultures or get a tan?

2.Try lesser known places

Anytime you see somewhere nice, just remember there is always a place just down the road which is lesser know, just as beautiful and possibly even more interesting for the fact that there are less tourists.

3.Don’t be afraid to go alone
Says it all. There are times when your friends cannot go on vacation with you and it’s a terrible thing, but you deserve to be happy, you have the right and deserve a vacation. Yes, we give you permission to go alone.

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4.Popular vacation destinations are popular for a reason
Forget about number 2 on this list, popular places are popular for a reason. Cancun has stunning beaches, Costa Rica is great for outdoor activities and Aruba has many options for road tripping. Just because they are popular does not mean you wont have an amazing time too.

5. Think closer to home
We offer the best hotel discounts to our members and more than ever, we are seeing North Americans choosing to stay in the US instead of venturing down south. So get signed up and start looking closer to home.

6. Be open minded about the destination
Even if you never even heard of the place, that should not matter. The best vacations are sometimes the ones where you least expect it to happen and anyway, travel is supposed to be about new experiences. Step out of the bubble, experience somewhere new.

7. Think outside the box
Travel destinations are sometimes expensive but don’t be put off. Check out our hotel discounts and vacation offers but also consider alternative transport to where you are going other than flights. Train, bus, car…..

8. Make a decision
Now that you know where you want to go, stop procrastinating and get it booked. The longer you wait, the higher the price will go and before you know it, you can no longer afford the dream vacation.

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9. Find a better deal elsewhere

Having checked out our website, we don’t mind you shopping around because we know that you will come back to us for the best deal. Don’t pay more than you should, join us and find the best vacation discounts online.

10. Ask for advice
After all, this is what we are here for; to help you. Ask us on Facebook, by email or phone, we want to help you and we want you to keep coming back to us for the best hotel discounts and more.

Airfare

5 ways to help you save on a Caribbean vacation

by hotelsetc, posted in vacations

No matter what type of vacation you are looking for, a Caribbean vacation deal is the right way to go. Rain forest, luxury hotels, snorkeling, lively nightlife and great vacation offers, it has everything you could want. That being said, maybe you are on a very tight budget this time around and in that case, we are here to help you find the best deal on Hotels Etc.

Here are 5 ways to save money on your Caribbean vacation:

Flight to caribbean

 

1.Pick the right island
Buying a flight to the Caribbean can sometimes be the most expensive part of your vacation and truth is, it can be cheaper to travel to some islands as opposed to others. In order to find the lowest airfare on any given date, you need to look at the low cost airlines such as JetBlue or Spirit. Although in saying that, our vacation packages will usually make it easier for you and just as cheap.
2.Have you considered the cost of living?
Many people book a vacation thinking it will be a cheap holiday but then arrive only to find out the destination is hugely expensive. Do some research, we can tell you Cancun can be affordable and somewhere such as the Dominican Republic is less developed but great value. Also, many destinations which are not fully developed are expensive to reach in terms of airfare but once you arrive, you will find very low prices.
3.What about a Caribbean cruise?

Maybe you want to see more than one island? Not only is a cruise vacation one of the best value options in the market right now but they also allow you to see more, for less. In fact, a cruise can cost as little as $150 per person and if you live close to a departure city you can even drive there to save even further on costs.
4.Pick the right time of year
Peak season is the most expensive and we all know it. Do you really have to travel at a certain time of year or maybe it’s worth holding out until the shoulder months? As a rule, the fall and summer are usually cheaper to travel to the Caribbean although with the exception of Bonaire, Aruba and Curacao, you need to be aware that hurricane season is between June and November.

Beach time
5.Exactly what is included?

Despite there being some fantastic rates out there, many hotels or resorts will not include important costs in the price up front. It is always a good idea to check before you book that activities or facilities are included should you need to avail of them. For this reason, we always recommend an all inclusive resort as they tend to give you everything packaged together.

After that, it really is your decision and please, if you want to save on vacations to the Caribbean or receive hotel discounts, let us do the work for you at Hotels Etc – the largest and best travel membership club in North America.