Beach Vacations
Amanda Watkins
Turks and Caicos: Providenciales
Beach Vacations
Amanda Watkins
Girls Trip to Cuba
Beach Vacations
Amanda Watkins
Un-Belize-Able

Turks and Caicos: Providenciales

Amanda Watkins Travel specializes in beach destinations is here to help make your dream vacation a reality. Visit us here to learn more about Amanda Watkins Travel or click here to get started!

aerial-grace-bay-beach_600x400.jpg

Are the Turks and Caicos calling your name? If so, then you are in the right place. Amanda Watkins Travel knows all of the best spots and can even get you lots of fun “extras” at all of the top resorts.

If you are looking for sun, soft white sand, impossibly blue water and delicious food, then the island of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos perfectly fits the bill. 

The island of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos has long been one of my most favorite places for a beach vacation. It is wonderful for couples, families, girl/guy trips, everyone! I first vacationed there 15 years ago when few people had heard of it and there were just a few resorts. That has certainly changed. Now you can find many wonderful fine dining options, a Thai restaurant that is worth the return trip alone, great shopping, and really fun snorkeling/boating excursions. 

The Turks and Caicos Islands consist of 40 islands and cays, eight of which are inhabited. The islands are located 550 miles southeast of Miami, Florida, just below the Bahamas chain and just to the east of Cuba and the island of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti.) The island of Providenciales (“Provo”) is the island where most all resorts are located.

There are many beautiful resorts on Provo each unique in their own way. All but a few of the resorts on Provo consist of individual owned condo units - meaning the accommodations are more spacious than your would find at most resorts and are often appointed with kitchens and laundry facilities. This is really great when you are traveling family style. I stayed at two resorts and toured several more. It is so much fun thinking about which clients would be best suited for each resort!

While I could go on and on about all of the resorts and how they are different, I am just going to highlight the two I stayed this visit. Please contact me if you want more info on the two resorts discussed below or any of the other resorts in Provo. I will help you find your "perfect fit".

The Shore Club on Long Bay Beach

The Shore Club, the only resort located on Long Bay Beach, is the newest resort on the Island. The resort has 110 rooms and 38 suites. It offers so many flexible room configurations that I can’t imagine anyone not finding a suitable option. The rooms are beautifully appointed and evoke the Caribbean with blue and white hues. My favorite room is the Ocean View One-Bedroom with Study. It has a fully equipped kitchen, large dining area, comfortable living area, king master bedroom, luxury master bath with shower, soaking tub and double sinks, a study area with a sliding door and pull out sofa that is PERFECT for kids, a half-bath and washer/dryer. It is 1500 square feet of fabulousness.

There are three pools – one is adult only – so you can always find the perfect place to perch. The beach is lovely and the water is clear, calm and shallow. In fact, you can WALK three miles out without the water being over your head (assuming you are of average adult height). It's truly amazing!

Virtuoso amenities I can add:

  • Free breakfast for two (per room) daily

  • Free Wifi

  • $100 Resort Credit

  • Upgrade to next room category upon arrival, subject to availability

The Palms on Grace Bay

I was fortunate to also be able to stay at The Palms over on Grace Bay. Grace Bay is where you will find most of the resorts on the island. With 12 miles of wide beach and crystalline water, you may never find yourself by the pool!

The resorts white mansion exterior of cut limestone evokes the feeling of being on a colonial estate. With only 72 rooms and suites, you won’t feel like you are at a mega resort. But you will never lack for amenities, either. There is a delightful shopping promenade that has a darling market where you can grab wine and gourmet goods.  The Palms also boasts what may be the finest spa on the island with 25,000 square feet in which to pamper you to pieces. Parallel 23, the award winning fine dining option at The Palms, is absolutely delicious. I had the best grouper I have had in my entire life.

Virtuoso amenities I can add:

  • Free breakfast for two (per room) daily

  • Free Wifi

  • $100 Resort Credit

  • Upgrade to next room category upon arrival, subject to availability

 

The inside skinny and pro tips:

  • Try to make a dinner reservation (in advance) at the Coco Bistro.

  • Take a day cruise from Grace Bay to one of the unpopulated parts of the island to swim and snorkel.

  • Cabs are easily available but are quite expensive.

  • If you think about renting a car, be sure to know that they drive on the opposite side of the street as we do in America!

Ready to plan your next adventure?

Amanda Watkins Travel specializes in luxury and adventure travel. Our affiliations ensure VIP treatment and amenities on any trip - including local weekend getaways. Plan your trip.

Girls Trip to Cuba

Whether you are interested in Cuba specifically or just a getaway with your besties, Amanda Watkins Travel can help. Click here to learn more about Amanda Watkins Travel and click here to get started planning a trip you will never forget.

Grab your girls and let’s get to planning.

Grab your girls and let’s get to planning.

*Despite recent changes to the law, travel to Cuba can still be accomplished legally (as of the date of this posting). However, it is imperative that you work with a well-connected and well-advised travel specialist or tour company. 

I had the opportunity to spend 4 nights in Cuba with 4 super fun and adventure loving ladies. We spent time on the beach, danced the salsa, learned how to properly smoke a cigar (which I am terrible at BTW), ate fabulous food, and relaxed by the pool of our breathtaking villa. But we also connected with the friendly Cuban people, immersed ourselves in the vibrant culture, and ate a lunch and dinner in the home of locals who welcomed us as family.

Every day in Cuba was a myriad of experiences, which makes sense as Cuba is like a kaleidoscope. Every time you look, you are seeing its beauty and complexities in a different light. I have written and re-written this post, but in the end, it is the pictures that will do this trip justice. Contact me if you are considering a trip to Cuba!

The inside skinny and pro tips:

  • Use an experienced and trusted travel advisor or tour company to make certain that you are traveling to Cuba legally.

  • A driver or guide (preferably both) is necessary. Even if you speak fluent Spanish.

  • Be flexible. “Operating Hours” are a loose concept.

  • Pack plenty of cash. Your credit cards are worthless and there are no ATMs.

  • Do NOT just “go.” You will be wasting your time and money. You need a plan.

  • Do make sure you have the opportunity to spend time with the locals. They are warm, friendly and love to share their country with tourists.

Amanda Watkins Travel specializes in luxury and unique travel adventures for couples, families or groups. Our global affiliations and connections ensure that clients receive VIP treatment and amenities and have access to the very best and the most unique experiences.  All trips should be "wow" trips! Plan your trip now.

Un-Belize-Able

The pun just had to be there. I tried not to do it. But it was unavoidable.

How is spring break already over? We looked forward to it for so long and then – poof – it was over in the blink of an eye. This year we decided to take our kiddos to Ambergris Caye in Belize.

 I wanted easy. I wanted relaxed. I wanted water. Somewhere where flip flops and swim suit cover ups were welcome everywhere. Somewhere where my kids could be entertained with natural experiences. I wanted something out of a Jimmy Buffett song.

Belize is a great destination for active, low maintenance travelers. It offers great fishing and truly fabulous diving and snorkeling. The locals are friendly, the American dollar is welcome and you can easily rent a golf cart and explore the island. 

DSCF0010 (2).jpg

New York City - Being a Part of it....Family Style

I don’t like taking my kids out of school. Actually, I should clarify. I don’t mind taking my kids out of school. I mind the make-up work. Ugh. I think make-up work is the literal interpretation of the phrase “this hurts me more than it hurts you.” It is brutal. So, if I am going to take my kids out of school, they are going to learn gosh darn it! This was the approach I took when planning our first trip to NYC as a family. My kids are 5, 8 and 10.  And I don’t know who was more excited about this trip, my kids or me. What I can tell you is that we all had an absolute blast!

Manhattan has so many fabulous hotels that are perfect for families. We chose to stay in midtown for its convenient location.  Our hotel was one of my Virtuoso partners, so we were welcomed to our rooms with a bottle of wine and macaroons.  Free breakfast and a $100 hotel credit were additional Virtuoso perks.

For four days we hit it hard: “Aladdin” and “School of Rock,” the Statue of Liberty, a PBS taping of “Science Goes to the Movies” where my kids got a private audience with astronaut Mike Massimino (an out of this world experience – pun intended), MoMA, the M&M store (rite of passage), a Tenement tour (cannot recommend enough) and through one of my partners, private tours of the 9/11 Memorial and the Natural History Museum.  In addition to the fabulous restaurants and playing in the snow in Central Park, I also got to hug the neck of one of my oldest and dearest friends, and my kids met their second cousins for the first time.

This trip was one for our family books. We will all remember it forever.  And the greatest thing about NYC...you can never see it all. By using the right travel advisor (hint hint), you can enhance your trip in more ways than you can imagine.  You can see museums and monuments in a more exclusive, more educational and more time efficient manner. You can get reservations at the right restaurants without having to do tons of research on your own. You can have an itinerary prepared for you - one where you won’t be criss-crossing Manhattan in an inefficient manner or being too early or too late for your next adventure. You can have expert guidance as to the best Broadway shows, the coolest tours (I am talking to you Greenwich food tour) and the best places to stay….and get extra perks to sweeten the pot.

But, the best part of using a travel advisor is the convenience. In the theme of Aladdin (a show that you must see if you are taking a family trip to NYC),  your travel advisor is like your genie. The only difference is that your “wishes” are limitless.
 

Happy Small Business Saturday!

Today is Small Business Saturday. Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to helping small businesses around the country. Even before starting Amanda Watkins Travel, it has been my preference to shop small businesses whenever possible. You simply cannot match the service provided when you are dealing with a person who is invested in your experience and truly cares about making sure you leave and remain a satisfied customer. Also, running a small business is hard, folks.

In honor of Small Business Day, I want to highlight some of my best “small business moments”. These moments that have been so fulfilling to me and are moments you simply won’t get by pressing click on your computer. So here goes:

 

Because I am a small business, I can provide these unique and personal services while greatly reducing the stress upon you – the traveler.  And I love doing it!

Thank you for supporting my small business and all of other amazing small businesses out there. 

Nizuc. A different Cancun.

I recently had the opportunity to visit the beautiful Nizuc Resort and Spa in Cancun. Keep reading to learn about the property, accommodations, and resort activities.

Additional Amenities

When you book your Nizuc Resort vacation through Amanda Watkins Travel, these additional amenities are included:

  • A one-way transfer from the airport to the hotel.
  • Free breakfast each morning for two.
  • Welcome bottle of tequila and dried fruit.
  • Hydrotherapy session for two.

Nizuc Resort and Spa in Cancun, Mexico

Nizuc Resort & Spa in Cancun

When you visit Nizuc, you will toss every expectation you had about Cancun out the window the moment you drive up to this gated property - part of which is the former Mexican Presidential Retreat of the Yucatan Peninsula. After a quick 10-minute drive from the Cancun airport, you find yourself immersed in a quiet feeling of relaxation and luxury. The staff greets its guests with “hello from the heart,” and each time you encounter staff members, they will continue to greet you by placing a hand over their hearts.

Nizuc Accommodations

Nizuc offers a variety of sumptuous accommodations to please even the most discerning traveler. Its 274 luxurious suites and private villas are found throughout this expansive 29-acre resort property. Some rooms feature private pools, spacious terraces, lush, tropical gardens, sweeping views and freestanding soaking tubs. Among my favorites are the private villas which feature infinity pools with indoor and outdoor showers. These villas are the epitome of luxury and allow you to feel secluded although you are never far from the beach, pools or restaurants.

Accommodations and rooms at Nizuc Resort

Nizuc Resort Dining & Activities

With six restaurants, each offering a distinct dining experience, you will never feel like you are having “more of the same.”  The 30,000 square-foot spa at Nizuc is the only one in Mexico to offer exclusive ESPA treatments. One of my very well-traveled clients recently experienced the spa at Nizuc. She said it was hands down the most decadent spa experience she has ever had! With a commitment to health, they feature activities geared towards fitness and wellness. Yoga on the beach? Yes, please.

Nizuc is a travel experience for solo travelers, families, couples and groups. With two exclusive white beaches, Nizuc also offers:

  • An adults-only pool and a main pool with a swim up bar open to all guests
  • Snorkeling, paddle boarding and kayaking are all complimentary
  • Yacht excursions (priced upon request) can be arranged
  • And for parents wanting some “alone time," Nizuc offers Wink’s Kids Club free of charge to its guests

Call me today to get closer to your incredible Nizuc experience.

,

Spring Break 2017. Family edition.

,

I have been having so much fun planning Spring Break 2017 vacations for families. With (literally) a world of options, the Discover phase of my planning process is vital to choosing the perfect spring break vacation for clients. Below are some of my favorite family spring break destinations. Have you started planning your family's 2017 spring break? Contact me today and let's get started! 

Why my Virtuoso affiliation is "kind of a big deal".

Virtuoso, Virtuoso, Virtuoso (best said it in the manner of the Brady Brunch refrain “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha”). If you are not familiar with Virtuoso, you are probably wondering why I keep mentioning it…over and over and over and over. Well, Virtuoso is only an exclusive network of the best travel professionals from around the world. Virtuoso represents the best of the best in travel, with a portfolio of nearly 2,000 preferred partners - top hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, and more.  

It is a total humble brag to say that, through my affiliation with Brownell Travel, I am a Virtuoso advisor. “That all sounds lovely, Amanda. But what does it mean for me, the client?” you ask. Great question. By using a Virtuoso advisor, you instantly become a VIP and are treated to a superior travel experience. Let's say you are staying at the Solage Calistoga in Napa Valley - and you totally should. Because of my relationship with Virtuoso, you can receive: a $100 resort credit which you can use at their award winning spa or Michelin-star restaurant; a Mudslide spa treatment; a bottle of house Napa Cabernet wine; and a departure gift. Not too shabby, eh?

Virtuoso advisors are able to provide you with everything from enhanced hotel stays, with valuable added services, access to highly sought after special events, "after hours" viewings at private museums, to a tour tailored to fit your personal desires. This means that YOU can have a personally customized and totally unique travel experience. 

You can find my Virtuoso Profile here. Contact Amanda Watkins Travel to start planning your exclusive “Virtuoso” travel arrangements today.