Jamaica and St. Lucia for the Holidays, 2006
Jamaica and St. Lucia for the Holidays
December, 2006
Dennis and I were invited to participate in an agents’ only educational experience with Virtuoso, our Luxury Travel Consortium, to visit the 6 Virtuoso properties in Jamaica. Although we love being home for the holidays, we felt this was an excellent opportunity to see the Best of the Best properties to where we refer clients who are looking for fun in the Caribbean. Also, we wanted to visit Ladera Resort in St. Lucia.
When we were at Travel Mart, our Virtuoso Luxury Trade Show, in November, 2005, Dennis and I won from the VAST (Adventure Travel Group) Track, a 3 night stay at Ladera, a hidden gem on St. Lucia which bills itself as an eco lodge, romantically situated in the “jungle” with a Piton-Mountains framed view of the yacht-strewn ocean harbor and beach below. We saw this beautiful site from our lovely suite with our own plunge pool (cold) framed by gorgeous orchids and flora indigenous to St. Lucia.
Our stay was all-inclusive thanks to Robert Stewart, the General Manager and Karen Bull, his rep in the USA Robert invited us for dinner one evening. We enjoyed a delightful visit with Robert who has been in charge of many luxury properties in Jamaica and St. Lucia, and he was gearing up for the Holiday crowd coming as the resort was fully booked. They are opening two new suites at Ladera Christmas week, 2006 for first time. We had a tour of those and they had several improvements over the other lovely, original suites. They are air conditioned. They have a heated plunge pool (halleluliah) and they have a Jacuzzi incorporated into the pool. They are two stories tall which makes them even higher for a lovely view. The food was absolutely delicious at Ladera. The chef, Orlando Sachel, gave us his recipe for a simple, but outstanding dessert he calls the first ever banana split.
Orlando’s Banana Split St. Lucia
Take as many bananas as you like and punch many holes in the skin of each banana
Soak in Banana or Coconut Rum overnight
Grill bananas until they are black
Cut open the banana longwise and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream
Voila!
orlandocaribchef@aol.com if you have questions. He loves to make mango salsa, too, with a savory leaning.
Back to the Virtuoso Educational:
The Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort, Rose Hall
One Ritz-Carlton Drive
Rose Hall, St. James
Montego Bay
Jamaica
Mrs. Georgia Kisner, Vice President of Industry Sales
Phone: 301-547-4700 Fax: 301-547-4740
E-mail: georgia.kisner@ritzcarlton.com
Ms. Hopal Watson, Travel Industry Sales Manager
Phone: 876-953-2800 Fax: 876-518-0142
E-mail: hopal.watson@ritzcarlton.com
Reservations
Phone: (876) 953-2800 or 800-241-3333
Fax: (876) 953-2501
Email: juilet.golaube@ritzcarlton.com
Website
www.ritzcarlton.com
Ritz Carlton has 3 dedicated specialized Travel Industry Sales Managers handling specific US regions for your convenience:
Ms. Kelley Gallagher Austen
Area Sales Manager, Transient: West Coast and Mid West
Phone: 951-609-3490 Fax: 951-609-3498
E-mail: Kelley.austen@ritzcarlton.com
Ms. Sarah Rosenbaum
Area Sales Manager, Transient: North East
Phone: 212-888-6800 Fax: 212-888-6212
E-mail: sarah.rosenbaum@ritzcarlton.com
Ms. Gina Cardelli
Area Sales Manager, Transient: South East
Phone: 786-470-3400 Fax: 786-470-3409
E-mail: gina.cardelli@ritzcarlton.com
Our first visit was to the Ritz Carlton, Rose Hill for one night. The Ritz Carlton, of course, is always nice and met our expectations for quality. The hotel is large and is well suited for families and conventions. There were lots of families with small children at breakfast which made for a busy, loud atmosphere.
For guests who are used to staying at the Ritz Carlton, this property doesn’t compare to Laguna Nigel or Atlanta. It’s Jamaica!
We stayed in an Oceanfront Suite # 1346. It was nice and roomy with casual braided rugs in aqua, yellow, pink, rose and cream colors. We had lunch at Mangos with Jamaican music and then a walk around the property. We were treated to a facial and massage. We got settled in and went to White Witch Golf Course at 5:30 for a tour of that facility. The White Witch restaurant is popular and reservations are essential one week ahead. We had punch and appetizers here. Dinner was slow and noisy.
There is a concierge Level for personalized service. Boogie shuttles for $10 leave the property every hour to take guests nightclubbing. There is a children’s program for ages 5 to 12. There is extensive renovation going on to upgrade for the holidays.
Hotel’s description of itself: Framed by the white-sand beaches of the Caribbean Sea and lush mountains of Montego Bay, The Ritz-Carlton Golf and Spa Resort, Rose Hall Jamaica captures the enchantment of the island’s historic plantation era. The resort’s prime beach front setting and colorful landscaping reflect the natural beauty of this popular tropical destination. With its championship golf
course, full-service spa and extensive meeting and banquet facilities, leisure and business travelers alike will appreciate this new luxury option in the Caribbean.
The resort features 427 guestrooms including 51 suites, 36 Ritz-Carlton Club Level rooms and suite,s and one Ritz-Carlton Suite. Guestroom amenities include private balcony, Frette linens, feather bed and down comforters, white marble bathrooms, separate tub and shower, double sinks and more. The fifth floor of the resort is reserved for guests of our Club Level. This floor
is accessible by elevator key only and includes a private lounge, personal concierge service and five complimentary food presentations daily. Accommodations include deluxe guestrooms, suites and The Ritz-Carlton Suite.
The unique dining experiences at The Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort, reflect a hotel which complements the history, ambience and heritage of the island, Jamaica. Our restaurants' cuisine combines the traditional Ritz-Carlton flair with the flavors of the tropics, blended with the natural charm of Jamaican hospitality. Guests have a choice of six dining venues.
The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Rose Hall, Jamaica is an 8,000 square foot wellness haven infused with inspirations from Jamaica's lush West Indies environs. Elegant mahogany furnishings, cool Caribbean colors and relaxing island sounds envelope guests in tropical luxuriousness, while signature treatments and therapies relax the mind and soothe the body.
Winding through the mountains of Jamaica's historic 4,000-acre Rose Hall Plantation, The White Witch Golf Course is carved out of 600 acres of lush greenery and rolling countryside that features panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea from 16 of its 18 holes. Conveniently located just ten minutes from the hotel. In addition to the on-site Spa, Fitness Center and tennis facilities, non-motorized water sports equipment is available at the hotel's private beach. Other services and facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, Ritz-Carlton Kids facilities and
25,000 square feet of carefully designed, elegantly decorated indoor and outdoor meeting spaces.
Our next overnight was Round Hill Hotel and Villas…
Round Hill Hotel & Villas
P O Box 64
West Indies
Montego Bay
Jamaica
Mr. Josef Forstmayr, Managing Director
Email: josef@roundhilljamaica.com
Mrs. Katrin Schafelner-Casserly, Director of Sales & Marketing
Phone: 876-956-7050 Fax: 876-956-7505
Email: katrin@roundhilljamaica.com
Reservations
Phone: 800-972-2159 (directly to hotel)
Fax: 876-956-7505
Email: reservations@roundhilljamaica.com
Website
www.roundhilljamaica.com
We stayed in the Pineapple House in an Oceanfront room. Privately owned villas are rented about 6 months out. There is a Pineapple Kids Club. Ralph Lauren owns Villa # 26, but doesn’t rent it out. There are no TV’s anywhere, but they can be arranged for. There are full staff’s for the villas for l/2 days. For Virtuoso guests, there are complimentary airport transfers, breakfast, late check out and welcome gift. May, June are slow months. Sept/October are the slowest. There are minimum stays of 10 days from Dec 22 to Jan 2. Guests can scuba and snorkel on the property and partial villas can be rented. There is a helipad on the property.
While at Round Hill, we went on an excursion to Good Hope Estate, stopping along the way at the Roadside Factory, a little roadside place to buy refreshments and take a picture of Captain Henry Morgan, a famous pirate (statue). Palmyra is building an 88 million dollar property near here, half of which will open soon. And Grand Bahia Principe is building a huge property.
We visited Good Hope and had lunch of fish and chicken, salad and dessert of coconut flan. Appetizers were filo pastry filled and served with chutney. We visited the Sugar Mill from l769 and saw the acquaducts built to carry water all over the property. Sugar was a valuable as cocaine is today back in the l700’s.
Good Hope has weddings, reunions, yoga retreats and has 10 bedrooms. We visited the owner’s brother’s pottery factory on the property and a few of us bought coffee mugs and other decorative earthy pieces.
This day was entirely too long over roads that were wearisome.
Hotel’s description of itself: Round Hill Hotel & Villas is a former pineapple and coconut Plantation on 100 lush acres located 8 miles outside of Montego Bay and perched on a truly perfect peninsula. It cascades past stately palms and tropical gardens down to its own pristine crescent beach. Round Hill, the Caribbean's first great resort and still its finest, is a canvas of pastel tropical flowers and graceful colonial architecture framed by lush Jamaican countryside and crystal clear beckoning sea. Recently renovated to anticipate the needs of our discerning travelers, Round Hill nevertheless continues the tradition of elegant detail and a glamorous old world ambience. The Pineapple House comprises of 36 ocean front rooms overlooking the Caribbean Sea. All Pineapple House rooms have large
louvered windows which fold back to take full advantage of the view. Telephones, safes, radios/CD players, refrigerators, umbrellas, bathrobes, small coffee machines and hairdryers. Our fresh water pool is located right at the edge of the sea, adjacent to the Pineapple House. The 27 individually owned villas with 74 suites are surrounded by 30 acres of garden. Villas or cottages contain 2, 3, or 4 suites, each with its own entrance and living area. Sizes vary, and most have spectacular views. There are 22 villas with their own private swimming pools. Each villa has a kitchen where housekeepers cook breakfast for service in separate suites.
Complimentary golf cart service is on call for transfer between the villas and the main house.
Resort amenities include a fresh water pool, private beach offering a fully equipped water sports center with some complimentary services, PADI diving, deep sea fishing boats and yachts are available for charter. Round Hill also boasts five all weather courts for complimentary tennis, and a complete fitness center. Jogging and walking path, weekly nature walks and personal instructors for exercise class also available. Golf can be arranged at the championship course just a few minutes away with complimentary transportation.
Our newest edition is the new spa at Welcome Wharf. We restored a celebrated 18th century plantation house on 10 acres of beachfront connected to Round Hill with a beautiful walkway along the ocean and rainforest. The spa at Welcome Wharf accommodates the air-conditioned indoor/outdoor fitness center/gym, beauty salon and seven treatment rooms as well as a
tropical outdoor treatment area. The tranquil beachfront lawns are used for afternoon yoga classes. New and exotic therapies have been created with local ingredients that capture the spirit and aromas of Jamaica.
Our new pool was designed by young, exciting and awarded landscape and environment architect Thomas Woltz of Nelson,Byrd and Woltz Landscape Architects, of Charlottesville, Virginia. It occupies the same location on the prometory overlooking Round Hill's bay. The design tries to incorporate 18th century stone from the Golden Grove Sugar Works with modern lines
and a double vanishing edge into Round Hill bay. Features of the new pool provide a shallow wading pool popular with children, and the main swimming pool cascades into a spacious spa pool on the ocean's edge. A new pool bar, styled in the same fashion as our very popular beach bar, will soon become another favorite hang out spot to watch our famous sunsets.
Dimensions: 50 feet long, 16 feet wide, 800 square feet; wading pool is a few inches deep, the deepest end is 7 feet. Open since Dec 24, 2005.
Pineapple Kids Club is open daily, complimentary for all children between 3 and 11 years, from 9 am to 5 p.m. For infants, there is nanny service available. The Pineapple Room, located in the main area, now has a 61" Sony stereo TV screen for movie nights.
Our next stay was the Jamaica Inn in Suite 20.
Jamaica Inn
PO Box 1
Main Street
Ocho Rios
Jamaica
Ms. Mary Phillips, General Manager
Ms. Nicole Henry, Sales & Marketing Account Executive
Phone: 876-974-2514 Fax: 876 974-2449
Email: nicole@jamaicainn.com
Reservations
Phone: 800 837 4608 or 876-974-2514
Fax: 876-974-2449
Email: jaminn@cwjamaica.com
Website
www.jamaicainn.com
We enjoyed a suite over the water where the waves lapped just below our window and Dennis could fish right out of our bedroom. He loved that! He took a picture of a tiny needle-nose fish and blew it up to show everyone that he caught a swordfish right out of our window. No one believed him, but I thought it was very convincing. Jamaica Inn has touches of elegance like silverplate service with white tablecloths, although it is a beachy place. The Manager’s Cocktail hour on the lawn featured really outstanding appetizers with attentive service, a delightful event. They serviced little cheese, onion and olive stacks, smoked salmon, fried banana strips, fried coconut and shrimp with a great sauce. This is an older property still maintaining a sense of propriety. There is a friendly dog and cat on the property which belong to management. In Suite 21, at the end of the peninsula (jetty), there is an unusually private two bedroom suite with plunge pool of its own, a large entry and sitting under the trees area with a hammock. It is $l700 per night with a 10 night minimum stay.
Ocho Rios is a two hour drive from Montego Bay airport, so quite a ride especially because all the roads aren’t repaired as yet. Jamaica is preparing for the World Cricket matches in the spring, 2007, so they are feaverishly working, but it seems an overwhelming job.
There are several multi million dollar resorts rising up from the beaches, so Jamaica is a hot spot for development which seems to be happening faster than the infrastructure can manage.
Hotel’s description of itself: Five star Jamaica Inn sits on a cove with a long stretch of beach that is one of the most private and peaceful in the Caribbean. 47 suites with spectacular views of both lush tropical gardens and the ocean blues await you. The staff is welcoming, gracious and attentive.
Jamaica Inn was a popular vacation place of Sir Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe, Kathrine Hepbburn and Errol Flynn. Colonial plantation architecture makes you feel like you've stepped back in time.
Each suite includes a balcony or a terraced living room with a blend of antiques, comfy sofas, club chairs, writing desks, dining tables and poster beds.
Soft electric guitar, a Live Jamaican Band, sassy sax, or old style Jamaican calypso will lull you to cocktails and dining and dancing under the stars. Saturday nights, enjoy the Inn's infamous lobster night. Water sports, croquet, garden tours, and massages are available when you're in the mood. Tennis Courts are next door and golf is nearby. Jamaica Inn is a serene, relaxing place in the sun, with no TV, radio, or clocks in the room. No stress, just get lost in time.
Personalized taxi transport from the airport. Choice of King bed or twin beds. Air conditioning and ceiling fans in all rooms.
Royal Plantation
Main Street
Ocho Rios, JM
While we were at Jamaica Inn, we made an unscheduled stop to visit Royal Planation, our newest Virtuoso property in Jamaica. We were able to see one of the suites and walk the property and were greeting by the general manager, Peter Fraser, and given materials to take with us. Dennis and I were scheduled to return here for one night before departing Jamaica.
Royal Plantation is British in feel with dark mahogany antique furniture, Persian rugs, elaborate flower arrangements and art and tea in the afternoons. The greeters are white-coated, and there are butlers to serve some accommodation categories, so a little more decorum was evident than in other properties in Jamaica. Le Papillion is their fine dining restaurant which Dennis and I were able to visit for dinner. This is an adults-only property for people who want to rest and escape from a hectic life. There are billiards, a library and of course excursions can be arranged, but interviewing guests, they said they just wanted to stay right where they were and not do anything. The beaches were lovely. The beauty shop is older (no spa chairs) but comfortable with beauticians who are skilled and casual. The waiting room for the spa had a sauna and steam room in the same area, which seemed a little awkward to access from the dressing room. Not sure how that was designed?
The Royal Plan which is almost all-inclusive is available and is recommended as prices are high for food. I have a client booked for March, 2007 in the Governor General’s suite. I think he will like the property.
Tryall was a must-see for me.
The Tryall Club
PO Box 1206
West Indies
Montego Bay
Jamaica
Ms. Karen Bull
Island Luxe, Places of Personality
Phone: 800-259-8017 or (770) 394-6565
Fax: (404) 237-1841
E-mail: karen@islandluxeresorts.com
Caroline Cousins
Email: ccousins@tryallclub.com
Reservations
Phone: 800 361 9949 or (876) 956-5660
Fax: (876) 956-5673
Email: rynlds@mindspring.com
Website
www.tryallclub.com
I have a family of 18 staying there for spring break in the Wheel House. This was booked through Karen Bull (Ryan) and I was excited to see what we picked for this family gathering. Each house has a staff with private pool and the properties are built to take advantage of nice views from the side of the hill. The beachfront villas and are lovely, too. Some of these do NOT have air conditioning and that would be a problem for most, so be sure to inquire. I was told that all the houses are privately owned and the management company is hired by the home owners to execute all the rentals and activities on the property. This is a perfect place for families in my opinion. Minimum stays are usually 7 days. The staff cooked a lovely breakfast for the two couples who stayed in our “house”. The view was lovely.
Overlook is completely newly refurbished and my favorite. There are one and two bedroom Great House Villas at Tryall, too, which are near the front of the property. Golf carts go with the properties. It is my understanding that property owners pay $100,000 per year to maintain the property and keep their staff on board. They enjoy sharing this expense with rental guests.
The Hotel’s Descrption of itself: Tryall Club is an exclusive Caribbean retreat spread out over a lush former sugar plantation on the pristine north coast of Jamaica, twelve miles west of Montego Bay. The Club boasts 69 beautifully landscaped villas within a 2,200 acre gated community of rolling hills and oceanfront dominated by an 18th-century Georgian Great House.
Each of our Estate villas comes with a private pool for you to enjoy. Villas range from one to six bedrooms. In addition to the luxurious private residences and the Great House with its pool and dining facilities, members and guests of Tryall Club enjoy world-class amenities including a celebrated championship golf course, a modern tennis center and a 1,000 yard arc of white sand beach.
Only feet from the water, at the base of the jetty, the Beach Café offers a varied menu and serves
as a popular lunchtime and after golf meeting place. Watersports available include sailing, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, motorized watersports and fishing. The Kids’ Club
offers daily activities which make full use of Tryall’s amenities and the expansive grounds of the estate.
Next stop was Half Moon for two nights.
.
Half Moon
Half Moon Post Office, Rose Hall
Montego Bay West Indies
Montego Bay
Jamaica
Myrtle V. Dwyer, Director of Sales
Phone: 876-953-2211 Fax: 876-953-2731
Ms. Linda Lawrence, Leisure Sales Manager
Phone: 876-953-2953 Fax: 876-953-3244
E-mail: linda@halfmoon.com
Ms. Tracey Ann Jones, Leisure Sales Coordinator
Phone: 876-953-2211 Fax: 876-953-2731
E-mail: traceyann@halfmoon.com
Reservations
Phone: 800-626-0592 or 876-953-2615
Fax: 876-953-2731
Email: reservations@halfmoonclub.com
Website
www.halfmoon.com
We had the longest site inspection in history, but the property is huge, so it was necessary to see everything! It reminded me of Hilton Head on one property. They are building a wellness/spa and we had an inspection of the construction with the superintendent of engineering who says this will be ready by March, 2007. I’m betting Sept….Unbelievable job.
Half Moon offers lovely accommodations for almost anyone. It has private beach and garden villas on the west end of the property right on the beach which I loved best. We stayed in the newly refurbished Hibiscus suites right outside the lobby which were oceanfront with private balconies. There are dolphin on the property, so dolphin swims and encounters are available only to guests on the property, not the general public. The dolphin compound is not as nice as the Big Island of Hawaii’s Hilton Waikoloa Village dolphin compound, but, again, it’s Jamaica. There is an equestrian center on the property, so beach rides and horse swims are available. The horse staff was very competent, horses very well cared for, and there was a guide for every two riders. Quite a nice experience. Favorite Villa on the beach is #34.
There are cruise day weddings on the property. Couples disembark from their ship, come to get married and return.
We met Tropical Escapes Owner, Imani Duncan. Her contact information is Phone 876 877 9961 and e-mail is id@mytropicescape.com. She told us about Idle Awhile $120 per night on the beach in Negril, a 10 room hotel. Tropical Escapes is our Virtuoso on-site who prepares itineraries for individuals and groups for us.
Golden Eye
Island Outposts
Strawberry Hills
My favorite for large properties.
Resort’s description of itself: A stately Caribbean oasis bordered by twin crescent-shaped beaches, Half Moon offers 402 beautifully appointed accommodations in ten categories ranging from rooms, suites, cottages to lavish villas. Boredom is simply not an option at Half Moon. Enjoy an unmatched range of activities on land and sea: 13 lighted tennis courts, squash, horseback riding, scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing and sailing – to name just a few. Then there’s our par-72, award-winning Robert Trent Jones Sr.designed golf course, featuring local caddies so good, you’ll wish you could take them home.
And whether you’re a veteran or just learning, our David Leadbetter Golf academy – the only one in the Caribbean – offers the finest golf instruction available.
No child can resist the opportunity to meet and play with the friendly dolphins at our dolphin lagoon.
Our Anancy Children's Village is full of surprises, and our well-trained, capable staff keeps an eye on the little ones so Mom and Dad can (finally) spend
some quality time at our relaxing full-service spa or our duty-free shopping village.
For decades, couples have come to Half Moon for weddings, honeymoons, anniversaries or to renew their vows. Whether it’s an intimate affair or an extravagant celebration, Half Moon’s wedding coordinators will make it an occasion to remember.
Groups of all kinds gather amongst our 26,000 square feet of banquet, meeting and convention facilities. Whether you’re planning a destination wedding, a business convention or even a family reunion, your guests will feel right at home.
Many resorts say it, but few truly deliver: Half Moon has something for everyone. Half Moon offers: 24 rooms, 152 suites, One 3-bedroom villa, One 4-bedroom villa, Seven 5-bedroom villas, Thirteen 6-bedroom villas, Twelve 7-bedroom villas. All accommodations feature: AM/FM radio, color cable TV, magnified shaving mirrors, refrigerated mini-bar, individual airconditioning,
direct dial telephone, Internet access, writing desk, nightly turn down service, modern bathroom facilities, 110 volt electrical outlets, in-room safe, balconies or patios, hair dryer, ocean or garden view. We now have wireless Internet hot spots in the lobby and by the main pool areas along with a 24-hour cyber lounge.
Fern Tree Spa at Half Moon to Debut Winter 2007
Plans are underway for Half Moon to debut an expansive new spa facility and spa suites in early 2007. The US$4 million dollar project, set to begin this summer, will see the conversion of the resort’s signature villa, Fern Tree House, into a 68,000 square foot sanctuary for the mind and body. Drawing on Jamaica’s lush landscape and centuries-old healing traditions as inspiration, the Fern Tree Spa will meld modern spa techniques with Jamaica’s ancient healing remedies of native herbs, fruits and botanicals.
End.
Agents with our group:
Patty and Dennis Calvert pattyc3224@aol.com
Faith Barrington faithb@travelexchange.net
Mimi and Jay Weisbach mimi@hubbardwoods.com
Sue Borland sueb@vwti.com
Ken and Linda Marshall ken@greatgetaway.com
Lindsey and Chris Prumers lindseyp@timitravel.net
Donna Pluta and Steve Hawley dpluta@virtuoso.com
An aside: We flew Memphis/Montego Bay on Delta through Atlanta with a return from St. Lucia. We booked Air Jamaica from Montego Bay to Kingston, JM, to Barbados to St. Lucia one way. This was quite a savings to book this one-way with Air Jamaica, however, they don’t fly this route everyday and the flight has many stops and the Jamaican timeframe is much slower than we are used to, so lots of delays, lots of planes waiting for others to land so they can get all the passengers on board, etc.
We left Montego Bay, flew to Kingston and flew to Barbados, but we had to return to Kingston after 2 l/2 hours (so we flew 5 hours) and returned to Kingston because of a windshield crack. We had to overnight at the Hilton, a far cry from the Virtuoso properties we had been visiting, flew out the next morning and missed a day at Ladera.
You’ll get a kick out of this. While I was at the Hilton, I got a cell phone call from a honeymoon client in Ft. Lauderdale who left me a message: “Dr. Calvert, we are about to board our flight on Air Jamaica to Montego Bay and we are worried about Air Jamaica getting us home on the 24th of December in time for Chirstmas. They seem rather disorganized. Could you give us some other options and perhaps get us home earlier?” Well, I didn’t call them back and say, “Air Jamaica has stranded us in Kingston, so if you can figure out how to get US home, please let me know.” I left her a message that I was away and she would have to deal with the agent at Air Jamaica for changes or call Heide or Roy at Century Travel. I found out today, that they got my message and re-arranged their flight to come home earlier in the day on December 24. Just in time for family.
December, 2006
Dennis and I were invited to participate in an agents’ only educational experience with Virtuoso, our Luxury Travel Consortium, to visit the 6 Virtuoso properties in Jamaica. Although we love being home for the holidays, we felt this was an excellent opportunity to see the Best of the Best properties to where we refer clients who are looking for fun in the Caribbean. Also, we wanted to visit Ladera Resort in St. Lucia.
When we were at Travel Mart, our Virtuoso Luxury Trade Show, in November, 2005, Dennis and I won from the VAST (Adventure Travel Group) Track, a 3 night stay at Ladera, a hidden gem on St. Lucia which bills itself as an eco lodge, romantically situated in the “jungle” with a Piton-Mountains framed view of the yacht-strewn ocean harbor and beach below. We saw this beautiful site from our lovely suite with our own plunge pool (cold) framed by gorgeous orchids and flora indigenous to St. Lucia.
Our stay was all-inclusive thanks to Robert Stewart, the General Manager and Karen Bull, his rep in the USA Robert invited us for dinner one evening. We enjoyed a delightful visit with Robert who has been in charge of many luxury properties in Jamaica and St. Lucia, and he was gearing up for the Holiday crowd coming as the resort was fully booked. They are opening two new suites at Ladera Christmas week, 2006 for first time. We had a tour of those and they had several improvements over the other lovely, original suites. They are air conditioned. They have a heated plunge pool (halleluliah) and they have a Jacuzzi incorporated into the pool. They are two stories tall which makes them even higher for a lovely view. The food was absolutely delicious at Ladera. The chef, Orlando Sachel, gave us his recipe for a simple, but outstanding dessert he calls the first ever banana split.
Orlando’s Banana Split St. Lucia
Take as many bananas as you like and punch many holes in the skin of each banana
Soak in Banana or Coconut Rum overnight
Grill bananas until they are black
Cut open the banana longwise and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream
Voila!
orlandocaribchef@aol.com if you have questions. He loves to make mango salsa, too, with a savory leaning.
Back to the Virtuoso Educational:
The Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort, Rose Hall
One Ritz-Carlton Drive
Rose Hall, St. James
Montego Bay
Jamaica
Mrs. Georgia Kisner, Vice President of Industry Sales
Phone: 301-547-4700 Fax: 301-547-4740
E-mail: georgia.kisner@ritzcarlton.com
Ms. Hopal Watson, Travel Industry Sales Manager
Phone: 876-953-2800 Fax: 876-518-0142
E-mail: hopal.watson@ritzcarlton.com
Reservations
Phone: (876) 953-2800 or 800-241-3333
Fax: (876) 953-2501
Email: juilet.golaube@ritzcarlton.com
Website
www.ritzcarlton.com
Ritz Carlton has 3 dedicated specialized Travel Industry Sales Managers handling specific US regions for your convenience:
Ms. Kelley Gallagher Austen
Area Sales Manager, Transient: West Coast and Mid West
Phone: 951-609-3490 Fax: 951-609-3498
E-mail: Kelley.austen@ritzcarlton.com
Ms. Sarah Rosenbaum
Area Sales Manager, Transient: North East
Phone: 212-888-6800 Fax: 212-888-6212
E-mail: sarah.rosenbaum@ritzcarlton.com
Ms. Gina Cardelli
Area Sales Manager, Transient: South East
Phone: 786-470-3400 Fax: 786-470-3409
E-mail: gina.cardelli@ritzcarlton.com
Our first visit was to the Ritz Carlton, Rose Hill for one night. The Ritz Carlton, of course, is always nice and met our expectations for quality. The hotel is large and is well suited for families and conventions. There were lots of families with small children at breakfast which made for a busy, loud atmosphere.
For guests who are used to staying at the Ritz Carlton, this property doesn’t compare to Laguna Nigel or Atlanta. It’s Jamaica!
We stayed in an Oceanfront Suite # 1346. It was nice and roomy with casual braided rugs in aqua, yellow, pink, rose and cream colors. We had lunch at Mangos with Jamaican music and then a walk around the property. We were treated to a facial and massage. We got settled in and went to White Witch Golf Course at 5:30 for a tour of that facility. The White Witch restaurant is popular and reservations are essential one week ahead. We had punch and appetizers here. Dinner was slow and noisy.
There is a concierge Level for personalized service. Boogie shuttles for $10 leave the property every hour to take guests nightclubbing. There is a children’s program for ages 5 to 12. There is extensive renovation going on to upgrade for the holidays.
Hotel’s description of itself: Framed by the white-sand beaches of the Caribbean Sea and lush mountains of Montego Bay, The Ritz-Carlton Golf and Spa Resort, Rose Hall Jamaica captures the enchantment of the island’s historic plantation era. The resort’s prime beach front setting and colorful landscaping reflect the natural beauty of this popular tropical destination. With its championship golf
course, full-service spa and extensive meeting and banquet facilities, leisure and business travelers alike will appreciate this new luxury option in the Caribbean.
The resort features 427 guestrooms including 51 suites, 36 Ritz-Carlton Club Level rooms and suite,s and one Ritz-Carlton Suite. Guestroom amenities include private balcony, Frette linens, feather bed and down comforters, white marble bathrooms, separate tub and shower, double sinks and more. The fifth floor of the resort is reserved for guests of our Club Level. This floor
is accessible by elevator key only and includes a private lounge, personal concierge service and five complimentary food presentations daily. Accommodations include deluxe guestrooms, suites and The Ritz-Carlton Suite.
The unique dining experiences at The Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort, reflect a hotel which complements the history, ambience and heritage of the island, Jamaica. Our restaurants' cuisine combines the traditional Ritz-Carlton flair with the flavors of the tropics, blended with the natural charm of Jamaican hospitality. Guests have a choice of six dining venues.
The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Rose Hall, Jamaica is an 8,000 square foot wellness haven infused with inspirations from Jamaica's lush West Indies environs. Elegant mahogany furnishings, cool Caribbean colors and relaxing island sounds envelope guests in tropical luxuriousness, while signature treatments and therapies relax the mind and soothe the body.
Winding through the mountains of Jamaica's historic 4,000-acre Rose Hall Plantation, The White Witch Golf Course is carved out of 600 acres of lush greenery and rolling countryside that features panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea from 16 of its 18 holes. Conveniently located just ten minutes from the hotel. In addition to the on-site Spa, Fitness Center and tennis facilities, non-motorized water sports equipment is available at the hotel's private beach. Other services and facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, Ritz-Carlton Kids facilities and
25,000 square feet of carefully designed, elegantly decorated indoor and outdoor meeting spaces.
Our next overnight was Round Hill Hotel and Villas…
Round Hill Hotel & Villas
P O Box 64
West Indies
Montego Bay
Jamaica
Mr. Josef Forstmayr, Managing Director
Email: josef@roundhilljamaica.com
Mrs. Katrin Schafelner-Casserly, Director of Sales & Marketing
Phone: 876-956-7050 Fax: 876-956-7505
Email: katrin@roundhilljamaica.com
Reservations
Phone: 800-972-2159 (directly to hotel)
Fax: 876-956-7505
Email: reservations@roundhilljamaica.com
Website
www.roundhilljamaica.com
We stayed in the Pineapple House in an Oceanfront room. Privately owned villas are rented about 6 months out. There is a Pineapple Kids Club. Ralph Lauren owns Villa # 26, but doesn’t rent it out. There are no TV’s anywhere, but they can be arranged for. There are full staff’s for the villas for l/2 days. For Virtuoso guests, there are complimentary airport transfers, breakfast, late check out and welcome gift. May, June are slow months. Sept/October are the slowest. There are minimum stays of 10 days from Dec 22 to Jan 2. Guests can scuba and snorkel on the property and partial villas can be rented. There is a helipad on the property.
While at Round Hill, we went on an excursion to Good Hope Estate, stopping along the way at the Roadside Factory, a little roadside place to buy refreshments and take a picture of Captain Henry Morgan, a famous pirate (statue). Palmyra is building an 88 million dollar property near here, half of which will open soon. And Grand Bahia Principe is building a huge property.
We visited Good Hope and had lunch of fish and chicken, salad and dessert of coconut flan. Appetizers were filo pastry filled and served with chutney. We visited the Sugar Mill from l769 and saw the acquaducts built to carry water all over the property. Sugar was a valuable as cocaine is today back in the l700’s.
Good Hope has weddings, reunions, yoga retreats and has 10 bedrooms. We visited the owner’s brother’s pottery factory on the property and a few of us bought coffee mugs and other decorative earthy pieces.
This day was entirely too long over roads that were wearisome.
Hotel’s description of itself: Round Hill Hotel & Villas is a former pineapple and coconut Plantation on 100 lush acres located 8 miles outside of Montego Bay and perched on a truly perfect peninsula. It cascades past stately palms and tropical gardens down to its own pristine crescent beach. Round Hill, the Caribbean's first great resort and still its finest, is a canvas of pastel tropical flowers and graceful colonial architecture framed by lush Jamaican countryside and crystal clear beckoning sea. Recently renovated to anticipate the needs of our discerning travelers, Round Hill nevertheless continues the tradition of elegant detail and a glamorous old world ambience. The Pineapple House comprises of 36 ocean front rooms overlooking the Caribbean Sea. All Pineapple House rooms have large
louvered windows which fold back to take full advantage of the view. Telephones, safes, radios/CD players, refrigerators, umbrellas, bathrobes, small coffee machines and hairdryers. Our fresh water pool is located right at the edge of the sea, adjacent to the Pineapple House. The 27 individually owned villas with 74 suites are surrounded by 30 acres of garden. Villas or cottages contain 2, 3, or 4 suites, each with its own entrance and living area. Sizes vary, and most have spectacular views. There are 22 villas with their own private swimming pools. Each villa has a kitchen where housekeepers cook breakfast for service in separate suites.
Complimentary golf cart service is on call for transfer between the villas and the main house.
Resort amenities include a fresh water pool, private beach offering a fully equipped water sports center with some complimentary services, PADI diving, deep sea fishing boats and yachts are available for charter. Round Hill also boasts five all weather courts for complimentary tennis, and a complete fitness center. Jogging and walking path, weekly nature walks and personal instructors for exercise class also available. Golf can be arranged at the championship course just a few minutes away with complimentary transportation.
Our newest edition is the new spa at Welcome Wharf. We restored a celebrated 18th century plantation house on 10 acres of beachfront connected to Round Hill with a beautiful walkway along the ocean and rainforest. The spa at Welcome Wharf accommodates the air-conditioned indoor/outdoor fitness center/gym, beauty salon and seven treatment rooms as well as a
tropical outdoor treatment area. The tranquil beachfront lawns are used for afternoon yoga classes. New and exotic therapies have been created with local ingredients that capture the spirit and aromas of Jamaica.
Our new pool was designed by young, exciting and awarded landscape and environment architect Thomas Woltz of Nelson,Byrd and Woltz Landscape Architects, of Charlottesville, Virginia. It occupies the same location on the prometory overlooking Round Hill's bay. The design tries to incorporate 18th century stone from the Golden Grove Sugar Works with modern lines
and a double vanishing edge into Round Hill bay. Features of the new pool provide a shallow wading pool popular with children, and the main swimming pool cascades into a spacious spa pool on the ocean's edge. A new pool bar, styled in the same fashion as our very popular beach bar, will soon become another favorite hang out spot to watch our famous sunsets.
Dimensions: 50 feet long, 16 feet wide, 800 square feet; wading pool is a few inches deep, the deepest end is 7 feet. Open since Dec 24, 2005.
Pineapple Kids Club is open daily, complimentary for all children between 3 and 11 years, from 9 am to 5 p.m. For infants, there is nanny service available. The Pineapple Room, located in the main area, now has a 61" Sony stereo TV screen for movie nights.
Our next stay was the Jamaica Inn in Suite 20.
Jamaica Inn
PO Box 1
Main Street
Ocho Rios
Jamaica
Ms. Mary Phillips, General Manager
Ms. Nicole Henry, Sales & Marketing Account Executive
Phone: 876-974-2514 Fax: 876 974-2449
Email: nicole@jamaicainn.com
Reservations
Phone: 800 837 4608 or 876-974-2514
Fax: 876-974-2449
Email: jaminn@cwjamaica.com
Website
www.jamaicainn.com
We enjoyed a suite over the water where the waves lapped just below our window and Dennis could fish right out of our bedroom. He loved that! He took a picture of a tiny needle-nose fish and blew it up to show everyone that he caught a swordfish right out of our window. No one believed him, but I thought it was very convincing. Jamaica Inn has touches of elegance like silverplate service with white tablecloths, although it is a beachy place. The Manager’s Cocktail hour on the lawn featured really outstanding appetizers with attentive service, a delightful event. They serviced little cheese, onion and olive stacks, smoked salmon, fried banana strips, fried coconut and shrimp with a great sauce. This is an older property still maintaining a sense of propriety. There is a friendly dog and cat on the property which belong to management. In Suite 21, at the end of the peninsula (jetty), there is an unusually private two bedroom suite with plunge pool of its own, a large entry and sitting under the trees area with a hammock. It is $l700 per night with a 10 night minimum stay.
Ocho Rios is a two hour drive from Montego Bay airport, so quite a ride especially because all the roads aren’t repaired as yet. Jamaica is preparing for the World Cricket matches in the spring, 2007, so they are feaverishly working, but it seems an overwhelming job.
There are several multi million dollar resorts rising up from the beaches, so Jamaica is a hot spot for development which seems to be happening faster than the infrastructure can manage.
Hotel’s description of itself: Five star Jamaica Inn sits on a cove with a long stretch of beach that is one of the most private and peaceful in the Caribbean. 47 suites with spectacular views of both lush tropical gardens and the ocean blues await you. The staff is welcoming, gracious and attentive.
Jamaica Inn was a popular vacation place of Sir Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe, Kathrine Hepbburn and Errol Flynn. Colonial plantation architecture makes you feel like you've stepped back in time.
Each suite includes a balcony or a terraced living room with a blend of antiques, comfy sofas, club chairs, writing desks, dining tables and poster beds.
Soft electric guitar, a Live Jamaican Band, sassy sax, or old style Jamaican calypso will lull you to cocktails and dining and dancing under the stars. Saturday nights, enjoy the Inn's infamous lobster night. Water sports, croquet, garden tours, and massages are available when you're in the mood. Tennis Courts are next door and golf is nearby. Jamaica Inn is a serene, relaxing place in the sun, with no TV, radio, or clocks in the room. No stress, just get lost in time.
Personalized taxi transport from the airport. Choice of King bed or twin beds. Air conditioning and ceiling fans in all rooms.
Royal Plantation
Main Street
Ocho Rios, JM
While we were at Jamaica Inn, we made an unscheduled stop to visit Royal Planation, our newest Virtuoso property in Jamaica. We were able to see one of the suites and walk the property and were greeting by the general manager, Peter Fraser, and given materials to take with us. Dennis and I were scheduled to return here for one night before departing Jamaica.
Royal Plantation is British in feel with dark mahogany antique furniture, Persian rugs, elaborate flower arrangements and art and tea in the afternoons. The greeters are white-coated, and there are butlers to serve some accommodation categories, so a little more decorum was evident than in other properties in Jamaica. Le Papillion is their fine dining restaurant which Dennis and I were able to visit for dinner. This is an adults-only property for people who want to rest and escape from a hectic life. There are billiards, a library and of course excursions can be arranged, but interviewing guests, they said they just wanted to stay right where they were and not do anything. The beaches were lovely. The beauty shop is older (no spa chairs) but comfortable with beauticians who are skilled and casual. The waiting room for the spa had a sauna and steam room in the same area, which seemed a little awkward to access from the dressing room. Not sure how that was designed?
The Royal Plan which is almost all-inclusive is available and is recommended as prices are high for food. I have a client booked for March, 2007 in the Governor General’s suite. I think he will like the property.
Tryall was a must-see for me.
The Tryall Club
PO Box 1206
West Indies
Montego Bay
Jamaica
Ms. Karen Bull
Island Luxe, Places of Personality
Phone: 800-259-8017 or (770) 394-6565
Fax: (404) 237-1841
E-mail: karen@islandluxeresorts.com
Caroline Cousins
Email: ccousins@tryallclub.com
Reservations
Phone: 800 361 9949 or (876) 956-5660
Fax: (876) 956-5673
Email: rynlds@mindspring.com
Website
www.tryallclub.com
I have a family of 18 staying there for spring break in the Wheel House. This was booked through Karen Bull (Ryan) and I was excited to see what we picked for this family gathering. Each house has a staff with private pool and the properties are built to take advantage of nice views from the side of the hill. The beachfront villas and are lovely, too. Some of these do NOT have air conditioning and that would be a problem for most, so be sure to inquire. I was told that all the houses are privately owned and the management company is hired by the home owners to execute all the rentals and activities on the property. This is a perfect place for families in my opinion. Minimum stays are usually 7 days. The staff cooked a lovely breakfast for the two couples who stayed in our “house”. The view was lovely.
Overlook is completely newly refurbished and my favorite. There are one and two bedroom Great House Villas at Tryall, too, which are near the front of the property. Golf carts go with the properties. It is my understanding that property owners pay $100,000 per year to maintain the property and keep their staff on board. They enjoy sharing this expense with rental guests.
The Hotel’s Descrption of itself: Tryall Club is an exclusive Caribbean retreat spread out over a lush former sugar plantation on the pristine north coast of Jamaica, twelve miles west of Montego Bay. The Club boasts 69 beautifully landscaped villas within a 2,200 acre gated community of rolling hills and oceanfront dominated by an 18th-century Georgian Great House.
Each of our Estate villas comes with a private pool for you to enjoy. Villas range from one to six bedrooms. In addition to the luxurious private residences and the Great House with its pool and dining facilities, members and guests of Tryall Club enjoy world-class amenities including a celebrated championship golf course, a modern tennis center and a 1,000 yard arc of white sand beach.
Only feet from the water, at the base of the jetty, the Beach Café offers a varied menu and serves
as a popular lunchtime and after golf meeting place. Watersports available include sailing, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, motorized watersports and fishing. The Kids’ Club
offers daily activities which make full use of Tryall’s amenities and the expansive grounds of the estate.
Next stop was Half Moon for two nights.
.
Half Moon
Half Moon Post Office, Rose Hall
Montego Bay West Indies
Montego Bay
Jamaica
Myrtle V. Dwyer, Director of Sales
Phone: 876-953-2211 Fax: 876-953-2731
Ms. Linda Lawrence, Leisure Sales Manager
Phone: 876-953-2953 Fax: 876-953-3244
E-mail: linda@halfmoon.com
Ms. Tracey Ann Jones, Leisure Sales Coordinator
Phone: 876-953-2211 Fax: 876-953-2731
E-mail: traceyann@halfmoon.com
Reservations
Phone: 800-626-0592 or 876-953-2615
Fax: 876-953-2731
Email: reservations@halfmoonclub.com
Website
www.halfmoon.com
We had the longest site inspection in history, but the property is huge, so it was necessary to see everything! It reminded me of Hilton Head on one property. They are building a wellness/spa and we had an inspection of the construction with the superintendent of engineering who says this will be ready by March, 2007. I’m betting Sept….Unbelievable job.
Half Moon offers lovely accommodations for almost anyone. It has private beach and garden villas on the west end of the property right on the beach which I loved best. We stayed in the newly refurbished Hibiscus suites right outside the lobby which were oceanfront with private balconies. There are dolphin on the property, so dolphin swims and encounters are available only to guests on the property, not the general public. The dolphin compound is not as nice as the Big Island of Hawaii’s Hilton Waikoloa Village dolphin compound, but, again, it’s Jamaica. There is an equestrian center on the property, so beach rides and horse swims are available. The horse staff was very competent, horses very well cared for, and there was a guide for every two riders. Quite a nice experience. Favorite Villa on the beach is #34.
There are cruise day weddings on the property. Couples disembark from their ship, come to get married and return.
We met Tropical Escapes Owner, Imani Duncan. Her contact information is Phone 876 877 9961 and e-mail is id@mytropicescape.com. She told us about Idle Awhile $120 per night on the beach in Negril, a 10 room hotel. Tropical Escapes is our Virtuoso on-site who prepares itineraries for individuals and groups for us.
Golden Eye
Island Outposts
Strawberry Hills
My favorite for large properties.
Resort’s description of itself: A stately Caribbean oasis bordered by twin crescent-shaped beaches, Half Moon offers 402 beautifully appointed accommodations in ten categories ranging from rooms, suites, cottages to lavish villas. Boredom is simply not an option at Half Moon. Enjoy an unmatched range of activities on land and sea: 13 lighted tennis courts, squash, horseback riding, scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing and sailing – to name just a few. Then there’s our par-72, award-winning Robert Trent Jones Sr.designed golf course, featuring local caddies so good, you’ll wish you could take them home.
And whether you’re a veteran or just learning, our David Leadbetter Golf academy – the only one in the Caribbean – offers the finest golf instruction available.
No child can resist the opportunity to meet and play with the friendly dolphins at our dolphin lagoon.
Our Anancy Children's Village is full of surprises, and our well-trained, capable staff keeps an eye on the little ones so Mom and Dad can (finally) spend
some quality time at our relaxing full-service spa or our duty-free shopping village.
For decades, couples have come to Half Moon for weddings, honeymoons, anniversaries or to renew their vows. Whether it’s an intimate affair or an extravagant celebration, Half Moon’s wedding coordinators will make it an occasion to remember.
Groups of all kinds gather amongst our 26,000 square feet of banquet, meeting and convention facilities. Whether you’re planning a destination wedding, a business convention or even a family reunion, your guests will feel right at home.
Many resorts say it, but few truly deliver: Half Moon has something for everyone. Half Moon offers: 24 rooms, 152 suites, One 3-bedroom villa, One 4-bedroom villa, Seven 5-bedroom villas, Thirteen 6-bedroom villas, Twelve 7-bedroom villas. All accommodations feature: AM/FM radio, color cable TV, magnified shaving mirrors, refrigerated mini-bar, individual airconditioning,
direct dial telephone, Internet access, writing desk, nightly turn down service, modern bathroom facilities, 110 volt electrical outlets, in-room safe, balconies or patios, hair dryer, ocean or garden view. We now have wireless Internet hot spots in the lobby and by the main pool areas along with a 24-hour cyber lounge.
Fern Tree Spa at Half Moon to Debut Winter 2007
Plans are underway for Half Moon to debut an expansive new spa facility and spa suites in early 2007. The US$4 million dollar project, set to begin this summer, will see the conversion of the resort’s signature villa, Fern Tree House, into a 68,000 square foot sanctuary for the mind and body. Drawing on Jamaica’s lush landscape and centuries-old healing traditions as inspiration, the Fern Tree Spa will meld modern spa techniques with Jamaica’s ancient healing remedies of native herbs, fruits and botanicals.
End.
Agents with our group:
Patty and Dennis Calvert pattyc3224@aol.com
Faith Barrington faithb@travelexchange.net
Mimi and Jay Weisbach mimi@hubbardwoods.com
Sue Borland sueb@vwti.com
Ken and Linda Marshall ken@greatgetaway.com
Lindsey and Chris Prumers lindseyp@timitravel.net
Donna Pluta and Steve Hawley dpluta@virtuoso.com
An aside: We flew Memphis/Montego Bay on Delta through Atlanta with a return from St. Lucia. We booked Air Jamaica from Montego Bay to Kingston, JM, to Barbados to St. Lucia one way. This was quite a savings to book this one-way with Air Jamaica, however, they don’t fly this route everyday and the flight has many stops and the Jamaican timeframe is much slower than we are used to, so lots of delays, lots of planes waiting for others to land so they can get all the passengers on board, etc.
We left Montego Bay, flew to Kingston and flew to Barbados, but we had to return to Kingston after 2 l/2 hours (so we flew 5 hours) and returned to Kingston because of a windshield crack. We had to overnight at the Hilton, a far cry from the Virtuoso properties we had been visiting, flew out the next morning and missed a day at Ladera.
You’ll get a kick out of this. While I was at the Hilton, I got a cell phone call from a honeymoon client in Ft. Lauderdale who left me a message: “Dr. Calvert, we are about to board our flight on Air Jamaica to Montego Bay and we are worried about Air Jamaica getting us home on the 24th of December in time for Chirstmas. They seem rather disorganized. Could you give us some other options and perhaps get us home earlier?” Well, I didn’t call them back and say, “Air Jamaica has stranded us in Kingston, so if you can figure out how to get US home, please let me know.” I left her a message that I was away and she would have to deal with the agent at Air Jamaica for changes or call Heide or Roy at Century Travel. I found out today, that they got my message and re-arranged their flight to come home earlier in the day on December 24. Just in time for family.
posted by Patty's Getaways at 1:19 PM
0 comments
