Overwater Bungalows in Africa!

 

Having trouble deciding between that South African safari or a beach vacation in a bungalow over the sea, but don't have the time or money to visit SA and Tahiti or the Maldives on the same trip?  No need to weigh the options for one more moment, thanks to Flamingo Bay Water Lodge in Mozambique! So go ahead, start narrowing down those safari lodges, and plan a relaxing pre- or post-animal-viewing stop in this amazing country!

 Only about an hour's flight from Johannesburg, South Africa to the town of Inhambane and a half-hour car ride will bring you to this eco-paradise.

 Flamingo Bay's barefoot elegance, laid-back style and atmosphere, excellent food and service, simple but lovely water chalets, and exotic setting would definitely be worth a splurge! However, the rates here could actually be more accurately described as a steal - $350-$400USD total for 2 per night, including daily breakfast and dinner!

Here, you can be as relaxed or as active as your heart desires...
Just want to laze? Spend time soaking up the sun on the deck of your chalet, jumping off now and then to cool off and snorkel in the clear waters below. After you've worked up an appetite, jump in one of the complimentary golf carts for the short ride from your chalet to the resort's restaurant and bar. A treatment at Flamingo Bay's spa is a fabulous way to spend the afternoon, and later, a sunset cruise is the perfect activity to cap off the day!

 

Want more adventure and excitement? Paddle around in a kayak, go for a horseback ride down the beach, take a guided city tour of Inhambane or a walk through one of the nearby small villages, try your hand at deep sea fishing, explore the local waters and islands by catamaran or traditional dhow, or take out a bike or ATV to visit one of the gorgeous nearby beaches!

No matter how you choose to spend your stay at Flamingo Bay, it's sure to be an unforgettable experience!

Photos courtesy of Flamingo Bay, Barra Resorts, and Mozambique Tourism

2013's Five Hottest Destinations!

2012 is not quite over yet, but that doesn't mean it's too early to start thinking about your 2013 travel! Here are 5 fabulous destinations that should be on your radar! I would also love to hear reader's top picks for 2013!

*Maldives

 Photo courtesy of VisitMaldives.com

This island nation is known for its luxurious private island resorts set of perfect sugar sand beaches fronted by crystal clear water. One of only 2 areas in the world (the other is French Polynesia) with tons of overwater bungalows, the Maldives offers the perfect romantic getaway in paradise! Some resorts even offer dining (and in one case, sleeping!) with the fish in under-sea restaurants.

 Photo courtesy of VisitMaldives.com

Top resort picks: Anantara Kihavah, Four Seasons Kuda Huraa, Soneva Fushi, Baros Maldives, Cocoa Island
Best time to visit: January to April, November and December

*Greece

Rich history, fantastic food, and gorgeous scenery collide in Greece,where you can spend the morning exploring the Acropolis and the afternoon swimming in an infinity pool on the rim of an ancient volcano. From history buffs to culture-seekers to sun-worshippers to party-all-nighters, This incredible country offers something for everyone!

Top resort picks: Grande Bretagne (Athens), Astra Suites (Santorini), Mykonos Grand
Best time to visit: May to September

*Puerto Rico

 Photo courtesy of St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort

With the recent opening of 3 luxe new resorts (see below), Puerto Rico offers more options for high-end travel than ever before. Stay near San Juan to enjoy all the shopping, restaurants, and nightlife you could ask for, or head to the outer islands of Vieques or Culebra for secluded beaches, lush rainforests, and a magically glowing bioluminescent bay.

Top resort picks: St. Regis Bahia Beach, W Vieques, Dorado Beach, a Ritz Carlton Reserve
Best time to visit: January to May

*Fiji

With 3 "main" islands crammed with sightseeing and adventure options, and dozens of incredible outer islands featuring beautiful boutique resorts, local villages, beautiful beaches, amazing snorkeling, rich culture, and some of the world's friendliest people, the Fijian islands are a must-visit destination!

Top resort picks: Royal Davui, Matangi, Qamea, Tokoriki, LikuLiku, Intercontinental Fiji
Best time to visit: May to October


*Belize

Photo courtesy of TravelBelize.org

Want to snorkel or dive the world's second largest barrier reef? Head to Belize. Want to explore and zipline through rainforests bursting with monkeys, tropical birds, lush foliage, and other wonders? Head to Belize. Want to see ancient Mayan ruins and tube through the cave systems they considered to be a sacred underworld? Head to Belize. Want to lay on the beach, stay in a private casita, drive a golf cart around a great little town bursting with shops, restaurants, and beach bars, swim with sharks and rays, see manatees and seahorses in their natural environment, eat fresh-caught lobster, and just have an all-around blast? Head to Belize!

Top resort picks: Victoria House (Ambergris Caye), Hamanasi (Hopkins), Turtle Inn (Placencia) Blancaneaux Lodge (San Ignacio)
Best time to visit: January to May

To start planning your own trip to any of these or other destinations, please don't hesitate to contact me at Caroline@easyescapestravel.com for custom itineraries and pricing!

Deal of the day! Huge savings PLUS a free night PLUS air credit at luxe Caribbean resorts!

Elite Island's resorts are some of my all-time favorite all-inclusive properties, so I'm very excited about the new specials they've just announced! Book a trip to one of their resorts before January 10th for travel anytime before December 20th, 2013 and receive up to 45% off rack rates, plus your 7th night absolutely free!

But as legendary informercial host Billy Mays would say, BUT WAIT!! THERE'S MORE!! If you book your trip with me during the same time period as this promotion, I will also throw in a $50 per person airfare credit as a holiday bonus. Since most of Elite Island's resorts are all-inclusive, you likely won't need to use the savings for extra umbrella drinks, but it could be very well-spent on a massage at one of the lovely spas!

My top picks:
 *Palm Island - the Grenadines (full review coming soon)
A gorgeous private island resort, perfect for honeymooners, small groups, and anyone who loves the beach! Accommodations range from garden view rooms to beachfront bungalows to a 3-bedroom villa (which comes complete with it's own golf cart!). Food and service are excellent, and the beach and water are beyond stunning. The view of the mountain on neighboring Union Island is reminiscent of what you'd see from one of Bora Bora's motu resorts, and Palm Island's location is perfect for island-hopping to other Grenadine islands and the spectacular Tobago Cays (where parts of "Pirates of the Caribbean" were filmed). PI is adult-only (16 years and over) between January 3 and April 18. Under-16s are allowed other times of year, but I generally do not recommend this property for families with young children.

 

 

*Galley Bay- Antigua (full review here!)
One of Antigua's premier properties, Galley Bay is another fabulous option for romantics of all ages (as long as that age is older than 16!). Offering a variety of beach-front accommodations, private cottages with plunge pools, a gorgeous beach, and easy access to all of Antigua's attractions, it's hard to find a better tropical vacation spot!

Elite Island also offers properties on Barbados, Tortola (British Virgin Islands), Anguilla, and St. Lucia, as well as 2 additional properties on Antigua. You can't really go wrong with any of them, so stop just dreaming of that beach vacation, and contact me at Caroline@easyescapestravel.com to make it a reality!

Nude-a on Barbuda

Ok, so there's not really any nudity in this post...though there are plenty of virgin beaches!

While on Antigua recently, my husband and I decided to do a spur-of-the-moment day trip over to Barbuda, Antigua's smaller, quieter, and much-less-developed sister island. Getting here was fairly easy; a taxi from the resort to the dock, then a ferry (about an hour and a half ride in each direction) to Barbuda! The blue boats in Antigua's harbour mimicked the color of the water...

Galley Bay-dreamin'

For the second half of our trip to Antigua, my husband and I chose to stay in a Premium Beachfront Suite at Galley Bay (another adult-only property, but much more luxe than our previous hotel on the island). I also loved the look of the Gauguin Cottages with their own private plunge pools, but they were sold out for our dates. But with the sand and ocean right outside of back door of our beachfront suite, you can't go too wrong!

Spectacular La Samanna on St. Martin

I was lucky enough to get to spend a night at the stunning La Samanna Resort & Spa on St. Martin this summer, and cannot wait to return! This resort (in my opinion the most luxurious on the island) gets my top marks for accommodations, service, setting, food, and amenities.

Check in was quick, smooth, and friendly, and best of all, came complete with a gift bag! La Samanna has partnered with a Martinique rum producer to offer guests La Samanna branded rum. Currently, guests at the resort are presented with a bottle of this delicious elixir, plus a lime, sugar, and a recipe for ti punch (a classic French Caribbean cocktail). Now that's my kind of welcome gift - and I'm not ashamed to admit that the bottle was only half full by the time I checked out the next day!

50% off at the incomparable Royal Davui Island Resort!

Always wanted to stay at Royal Davui, but could not quite afford it? For stays in February of 2013, this incredible resort is offering an amazing half-off special!

There is a bit of fine print; over the course of the month, they will be doing some construction of new staff quarters and renovations of the existing ones. All of the guest facilities will be open as normal during this time, though! And having stayed at Royal Davui and being familiar with the location of these quarters (see my review and photos here), I am confident that any disturbance to guests will be negligible. This is truly a fabulous deal, and I hope to see many travelers take advantage of it!

To plan your Royal Davui dream vacation, please don't hesitate to contact me at Caroline@easyescapestravel.com!

My adventure begins! Two weeks in French Polynesia!

As I write this, I'm flying from Atlanta to Los Angeles to connect with a flight to Tahiti! This will be my 5th trip to the magical islands of French Polynesia, and each time I love them even more. Follow along with me as I spend time on Tahiti, Bora Bora, Rangiroa, Manihi, and Moorea, bringing you the most up-to-date news and photos of unreal resorts, excellent excursions, delectable dining, cool culture, and stunning scenes from paradise!

Fly to Tahiti for only $899!

For travel January 28-March 31, Air Tahiti Nui is offering a fabulous airfare deal between Los Angeles and Papeete, Tahiti. For only $899 per person including all taxes and fees, you can fly to this dream island for up to 5 days - believe me, it's worth the trip!

For more information or to book your Tahitian getaway, feel free to email me at caroline@easyescapestravel.com!

Fabulous deal at Sofitels in Moorea and Bora Bora!

For travel now through March 31, book 5 nights at the Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora Beach Resort or the Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach & Private Island and pay for only 3, plus get free daily breakfast! Honeymooners will also receive a host of added perks, including a 30-minute couples massage, bottle of champagne, and other special gifts!

This special is valid on the following room categories:
Sofitel Moorea - Luxury Beach Bungalow, Superior Overwater Bungalow, Luxury Overwater Bungalow

 Sofitel Bora Bora - all categories except Luxury Lagoon Front Bungalow

To take advantage of this super special, contact me at Caroline@easyescapestravel.com!

A new Cancun luxury resort - complete with limited-time deal!

I'm excited to announce that one of my favorite all-inclusive brands, Secrets Resorts and Spas, will be opening a beautiful new property in Cancun come August - Secrets The Vine Cancun! And to celebrate, they are offering some fantastic deals!

Introductory Rate
Secrets Resorts & Spas is offering a limited time pre-opening special of $160 per person per night based on double occupancy for travel between August 1 - October 28, 2012, and $175 per person per night for travel between October 29 – December 27, 2012.*

* NOTE: The booking window is 11/29/11 to 1/31/12. 

To book your stay at Secrets The Vine Cancun or any other tropical luxury resort, please don't hesitate to contact me at caroline@easyescapestravel.com! 

Press release and more details on this new luxury resort after the jump!

Pay 5/Stay 10 in French Polynesia extended!!

Because there's no bad time to visit paradise, Pearl Resorts have re-upped their amazing "stay 10/pay 5" deal for November 1, 2011-April 30, 2012! If you love fabulous resorts, rich culture, delectable food, and the most stunning scenery on earth, take advantage of this deal - it's not likely to come along again soon!
For more information on this deal: http://travelprincessatl.blogspot.com/2011/01/incredible-last-minute-deal-to-french.html

Go ahead, tell me you don't wish you were here right now!

Fantastic "double deal" at two exotic Caribbean hideaways!

The weather may have gotten cold in many parts of the world, but Firefly Mustique and Firefly Bequia are heating things up with their "Best of Both Worlds" special! These luxury resorts in St. Vincent & the Grenadines are still not exactly cheap, but this deal makes them less of a splurge, and is well worth every penny!

For $5999 per couple*, you'll receive:

+4 nights at Firefly Bequia
+4 nights at Firely Mustique
+Upgrade upon arrival to the best available room at each resort
+Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner at both resorts
+Daily afternoon tea at Firefly Bequia and daily sunset snacks at Firefly Mustique
+Free flight from Barbados to Bequia for both travelers
+Free flight or boat ride from Bequia to Mustique for both travelers
+Free flight from Mustique to Barbados for both travelers
+Transfers between airports/docks and resorts
+Complimentary use of Club Caribbean Lounge at Barbados airport
+All other inclusions as per resort policy

*Not including airfare to Barbados or airport taxes/fuel surcharge; airfare from the US and Barbados starts at around $420 per person

A pictures is worth a thousand words, so check out the websites, and I'll let these speak for themselves...don't you wish you were there right now? If so, please feel free to contact me at Caroline@easyescapestravel.com for a fully customized quote!

Photos courtesy of Firefly Resorts

Tadrai Island Resort, Fiji

Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands just became even more enticing with the opening of the ultra-luxe Tadrai island Resort.  Located on a paradisiacal palm-fringed isle, Tadrai is the perfect spot for a honeymoon or other romantic getaway. The resort boasts 5 beautiful and spacious beachfront villas, each with a plunge pool overlooking one of the property’s 4 private beaches.   

 

 

With a maximum of 10 adult guests (sorry, no children allowed!)  on property at any given time, attentive and personalized service is guaranteed. Rates include all meals, select alcoholic beverages, all non-alcoholic beverages, gratuities, and non-motorized water sports, making Tadrai one of just a few true all-inclusive properties in Fiji. The first few guests to stay at Tadrai have raved about  the staff, food,  spa, and everything else the resort has to offer, and I expect that the kudos will just keep coming! 

To plan your own getaway to this pristine paradise, contact me at Caroline@EasyEscapesTravel.com!

Sailed off to Antigua, it took her 3 days on the boat...

(Note: please excuse the odd formatting on this one...after trying to fix it for the past hour, I finally had to give up!)

Ok, so we actually went via plane, and it took more like 4 hours than 3 days, but I could not resist this line from one of my very favorite Jimmy Buffett songs! For our 7th wedding anniversary this April, my husband and I spent a week on the Caribbean island of Antigua, a sandy paradise dusted with more than a touch of British influence.

We spent 3 nights at Cocobay Resort and 4 at Galley Bay, two fairly different properties, but each of which has its own special qualities. We enjoyed our time at both resorts, though Galley Bay is far and away more luxurious overall and the only one of the two I would recommend to almost anyone without hesitation.

Check-in at Cocobay was a bit slow, but the front desk service was very friendly, and when we mentioned that it was out anniversary, they arranged for a complimentary bottle of champagne on ice to be sent to our room. We stayed in Loblolly Cay, one of the resort's Seafront Cottages. Most of the cottages are detached units, but Loblolly does share a high bamboo fence with another unit. However, we still thought it was the best location on property, and would have been our first choice if we'd had every cottage to choose from!