​As a travel advisor, I receive countless emails from different hotel chains in the Caribbean and I have been to many of their properties, but the chain that blew me away was Sandals and Beaches properties and that is why I have chosen to become a Certified Sandals Specialist.
 
I like to work with properties that deliver what they promise and that excel in their service to my clients.

​What I love the most is that they have brought the all-inclusive concept to islands like Grenada, Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia; islands that are out of the beaten path offering an array of unique experiences.
 
Sandals Resorts even went a step further when they brought the over the water bungalows to their properties in Jamaica and St. Lucia. Now you don’t need to fly extra hours to Tahiti to have an experience like that!

​When you are planning your destination wedding you want a place that satisfies your dreams but will also wow your friends and family that will join you.
 
You want them to feel that their effort to come to your wedding is appreciated and that you took them into account when you choose your property and the destination. At Sandals and Beaches Resorts they won’t be disappointed! They are the leading company in romance and luxury vacations!
 
I have been in their properties back in February 2019 and I can’t wait to take my family there!

I love the fact that they have a wedding department, yes as all the other hotels do, but the difference is that you don’t have to buy a package already created, you design your package, you select all the details of your wedding and customize it in any way that you want, you make it unique as you are!
 
Their team is experienced, and they offer a FREE WEDDING when you book your stay of a minimum of 3 nights or longer; this saves you money and you no longer need a wedding planner!
 
All their destination wedding packages include:

• Personal Wedding Planning Team
• Preparation of marriage documents
• Picturesque wedding location
• White Chiavari chairs with white cushions
• Pre-recorded music for your ceremony
• 1-hour cocktail reception for your guests 
• A Signature cocktail for the Bride and Groom
• 15% discount on Red Lane Spa services
• Free Sandals Wedding and Honeymoon Gift Registry
• 5" x 7" wedding photograph
• Romantic turndown service on the 1st night of your honeymoon
• Honeymoon mimosa breakfast in bed
• Honeymoon dinner

Did you know that you can test-drive your wedding? Yes! you can go to the resort that you have chosen at a minimum price starting at $250 per night per couple for a maximum of 3 nights, try the food that you plan to serve, and choose your wedding location. The best part is that your expenses will be credited back to you if you book 5 or more rooms for your wedding.
 
My favorite Sandals in Jamaica is Sandals South Coast which has been newly renovated and added Rondoval Swim-up suites. The Dutch Villa has received a facelift and is looking prettier than ever!

​They have so many restaurants that a 7 night’s stay won’t be enough to try them all. The quality of the food they serve is above and beyond what a regular all-inclusive hotel offers, they will wow your senses from the way they present the dishes to the aromas and flavors!

​Sushi on the Sand is one of my favorite stops, right there on the beach, you can be in your swimsuit eating there, super casual! 
 
For a more sophisticated place and romantic night, my favorite is Bayside restaurant very close to the shore, you can enjoy the colors of the ocean and beautiful sunsets while you are dining, they serve French cuisine!
 
To close the night head to Latitudes Bar located on a pier in the middle of the ocean!
 
There are plenty of areas through all their properties that are great for couples to spend time by themselves, either in the ocean, in the gardens, or on the shores.
 
Of course, in times of Covid-19, they have Protocols of cleanliness, 18 touch points  and social distancing measures that guarantee a safe stay for you and your guests.
 
When you start planning your destination wedding, I will love to assist you, let’s talk to see if we are a good match!

My father turned 80 years old last October and we celebrated at a villa rental in Costa Rica.
 
The big benefits that we loved from the villa rental were the following:
 

• Two maids that took care of getting the house clean, the beds made and the bathrooms impeccable and even with décor touches.
• Our chef Luis was phenomenal, he cooked whatever you asked him, even a child menu just for our young picky boy.
• Our concierge Rudy was there to welcome us to the villa, he stayed in touch and visited us at least on two occasions to let us know about the attractions in the area; he even booked them for us.
• The private pool, the water was too cold for me, but my son enjoyed it.
• Few minutes’ drive from the beach
• Spectacular views of the ocean from every room!
• The whole place was only for us, very convenient in times of Covid-19.

Thanks to our concierge we visited places like:
 

• Los Campesinos Ecolodge where we cross hanging bridges, swim under the waterfalls and have a great hike. It is a must in your visit to the region of Quepos in Costa Rica and is extremely affordable, just $8 per adult and $4 per kid!

 

• Another place that we visited was Manuel Antonio National Park, very close to the villa. The beach was great, small beach but a great place to refresh yourself after walking in the park.

 
Depending on the date of your trip, the hour of your visit and your luck you will see wildlife, we went around 11 am and saw monkeys and blue crabs.
The entrance to the park for adults and kids was $16.
 

• Catamaran ride was a blast, we ate good food and enjoyed the drinks on board. We found a great photographer that took memorable pictures of the whole family and individuals.

​Our chef recommended a beach that is not well known but where he likes to take his children, it was 5 minutes ride from the villa, Biesanz Beach where we enjoyed kayaking.
 
Be careful when you practice kayaking on this beach, the waves can be high and rough. 
 
For us it was our first time doing it, so we have some funny stories to tell about falling from the kayak when the waves hit us. I do not recommend doing it on a day when the ocean is rough like we did. 
 
We tried a local restaurant on our own, Mira Olas Restaurant located at The Malecon in Quepos city. The food had the taste of being prepared homemade, super delicious, great service, and a lovely view of the ocean.

​Quepos Farmers Market takes place every Friday night and is a good place to buy good coffee, fresh produce, and yummy bread.
 
To celebrate my dad’s birthday, Luis, the chef helped us buying the cake and preparing our father's favorite meal that is grilled pork with potatoes, corn, and grilled veggies!

​We sang, danced, and celebrated all night long. It was the best trip ever for each one of us!
 
If you would like to go to this villa for your special celebration, just let me know!

Definitely Coronavirus is impacting our lives in many ways. 
 
We are learning to be more proactive in taking care of our health and that includes:
 

• Washing your hands every time before you eat with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% of alcohol
•  Do not touch your face with your hands
• Do not be around sick people
• Stay at home if you are sick and quarantine yourself
• Cover your cough and sneeze
• Clean and sanitize surfaces that are frequently touched like phones, doorknobs, remote controls

 
We have to be aware that our actions affect others and that is in our hands to prevent spreading this virus. Let’s become a responsible citizens. 
 
As a travel advisor I had to deal with clients feeling afraid to travel, clients looking into their trip insurance policies and clients canceling their trips.
 
Rest assure that my first concern is your well-being and health.   I am closely monitoring all the development on regards of this virus.  I will never recommend you travel to a destination that is not safe to you and your family. I will be the very first one on suggesting you to change your itinerary,  reschedule your trip or cancel it.
 
I work with trusted tour operators that has the same vision and care for my customers and many of them are changing their cancellation policies to accommodate the traveler's needs.
 
Sandals for example has introduced a year-long no- penalty policy for valued guests that decide to revise a booking due to concerns related to COVID-19 (for 12 months from the original date of travel.) 
 
Don't rely on what the media is portraying; there is too much sensationalism and media hype instead of true facts.
 
There are two places where you can find trustworthy information about the virus and one of them is the CDC and WHO . They update their information day by day so is your best source to keep yourself informed and to make decisions base in real facts.
 
Do not let this pandemic disease stop you from living your life in full. Be cautious and follow the recommendations of The CDC but keep up with your normal life as much as you can.
 
 

Many couples today that are looking into Destination Weddings have to choose between a legal or civil wedding at the destination versus a symbolic wedding.

Legal or Civil wedding:

Is a wedding ceremony that is performed by a government official and is recognized by the government.
In Texas, United States you have to obtain a License to get married and to do it you and your love one just need to go to your city Courthouse and request the forms to get married. This license is valid for 90 days.

When you are in front of the clerk you need to provide:

• Present valid government photo ID (e.g. driver's license, ID card or passport) proving that you are each at least 18 years old
• Fill out the application Form 
• Repeat the oath listed on the application
• Sign the application in front of the clerk
• Pay the application fee

After that you are on your way to get married!

The following people are authorized to conduct your Texas wedding ceremony:

• A licensed or ordained minister or priest, a rabbi, or other religious officer authorized to conduct wedding ceremonies
• An active or retired federal or Texas state or county judge or justice of the peace

All your officiant will need to do is fill out his portion of your marriage license. 

​In fact, you can get married right there at the Courthouse where you are filling out documents to obtain your license and leave the place already legally married, all in one day!
 
Symbolic wedding:
 
Is a ceremony where two people in love exchange vows, exchange rings and have the proper wedding with an officiant but it doesn’t have any legal benefits for the couple.
 
Many couples choose to get married in their origin country and do their symbolic ceremony at a Destination Wedding just to avoid all the legal requirements that each country has. In Mexico for example the weddings have to be performed in Spanish and translated by the hotel personnel and requires blood test and many more requisites that makes more complicated something that is so simple here at the United States
 
My advice to you, don’t waste time and money doing a legal wedding in the destination of your preference, do your legal marriage license in your origin country and just do your symbolic wedding at the destination, it will save you a lot of time and headaches!

Reference: The Knot Magazine

You finally have chosen your dream hotel and destination and now you need to choose the best option for you and your friends, let’s take a look!
 
Flexible group benefits:
 

• Ideal for multi-origin groups on different itineraries
• Usually the group will get a discount code
• Great to give you the flexibility that your group needs
• You can earn extra amenities from the hotels according to the number of guests, varies from vendor to vendor
• Each person will book and pay their deposit

 
 
Contracted group benefits:
 
 

• Ideal for travelers on the same itinerary who need flexible payment and cancellation policies for the entire group 
• Flexible policies for name changes, cancellations and deposits 
• One consistent price 
• Pre-reserved blocked hotel inventory 
• Hotel extra amenities and other inclusions 
• Bride and groom pay deposit that is requested at the time of booking and it varies according to vendors.
• Chance to earn extra bonus, hotels stays and complimentary air, this varies from vendor to vendor.

 
 
 
When you are planning a wedding the best way to secure and lock the price for you and your guests is Contracted group; this gives you  a flexible payment plan and secures the rooms for all your guests.
 
When you choose flexible group, you do not lock the price, and do not secure the room inventory that your group needs. This means that if uncle Julio waits until 2 months before your wedding to book his room, is very likely that he will end up paying a higher rate and have the risk that the room category that he is looking for is not available.
 
From experience I say that weddings have a lot to win booking contracted groups!

Reference: VaxVacations Groups

I visited  Costa Rica to celebrate my dad’s 80th birthday with my family from Peru and Germany.

It was my first time in the destination and my first time in a private villa with a chef!

As a travel agent I am used to going to all- inclusive hotels whenever there is one available, but this time my brothers preferred a villa instead of a hotel to just spend time together with no strangers around.

When you take your group to a villa, the experience is super intimate, there are no shows, no restaurant options, bar tenders, etc; but on the other hand this experience will let you deepen the bond with the people traveling with you.

​

The food in Costa Rica is awesome, we enjoyed Gallo Pinto, fresh fruit, cheese, and avocado in our first breakfast and our chef prepared  Caribbean Chicken on our last day that was spectacular! We ate grilled meats, fish, Costa Rica style ceviche and all the food was super yummy!

We enjoyed days on different beaches: Espadilla, Manuel Antonio and Biesanz. Each one is completely different.
Espadilla is a big beach where kids can run the waves in boggie boards, the waves are strong and even good for surfers.
Manuel Antonio was my favorite because is small, intimate and has white sand. Lovely for young children because it has no waves.
Biesanz beach is where you can do snorkeling and kayaking but the beach itself is rocky, you can get in the water to swim only on the right side but still have to wear swim shoes because of the small rocks.

The locals suggested that we go to Campesinos Eco Lodge instead of Rainmaker because we didn’t want my dad to walk long trails. The place was espectacular, just a short walk to the hanging bridge and another short walk to the waterfalls where you can swim. 
For families with kids and elderly parents is highly recommended!

If you are in Manuel Antonio National Park area, visiting this park is a must! To see the wild animals it is better to go very early in the morning or at night with a guide, they know where to find them.
I enjoyed so much the diversity of flowers, the monkeys chasing us and the thousands of blue crabs!

Friday nights they have a small farm trade show in downtown, there you can buy specialty coffee, bread.

We just tried one restaurant that has a lovely location on  the oceanfront , is called Mira Olas. Located in Central Avenue, just to the left of the name “Quepos” that is shown on the boardwalk that goes around the beach. The food was superb and we pay $13 dollars for 2 meals with natural passion fruit juice. The meal was a choice of meat: chicken, pork or fish, rice and black beans.

Costa Ricans also known as “Ticos” are extremely warm, happy and caring people, they do everything they can to make you feel welcome and they will go the extra mile to make sure that your stay in their country is enjoyable!

As my friends there say, “ Hasta la vista,  PURA VIDA!!

If you want to look beautiful in your wedding day, you have to take care of the beauty of the dress, but most importantly is that the dress fits you very well. Your wedding dress should enhance your beauty and be according to your complexion and your personality.
 
Your ideal wedding dress has to feel beautiful and unique. There are a lot of weddings attires from princess dresses to trouser suits. There are also combinations with hats, veils, feathers, headdresses, and shoes, and each element adds up.
 
To help you to chose correctly, we give you some tips:

Neckline
The goal is to create a hourglass figure.
 
When your body is shaped as pear or diamond, you need to enhance your shoulders with necklines like buttonhole collars also known as boat neck, drop shoulders and asymmetric lines. These kind of necklines are good for brides with a small breast too.
 
The Queen Anne neckline enhances shoulders too, but requires a long neck and stylized face.
 
Bodies shaped as rectangle have to enhance both the shoulders and the lower body to create the hourglass figure.
In the other hand, inverted triangle bodies should use V necklines; it can stylize the upper body and it is fine for big brides and for brides with short or wide neck.
 
A round neckline is good for this as well, especially if the bride has a big bust. Additionally, there is the heart neckline which should be worn with a wide skirt.
 
Skirt
In same way, skirts must help creating an hourglass figure as well. Brides with hourglass bodies can wear skirts with the following cuts: mermaid, trumpet or straight, but brides with pear and diamond bodies should wear a straight or A cut that have to be loose on hips.
 
Brides with triangle and inverted rectangle shaped bodies should wear A cuts or pleated skirts to delineate their waist and give volume to their hips.
 
Take these tips and look radiant in your wedding day.!
 
Reference
https://www.zankyou.com.co/p/como-elegir-el-escote-de-tu-vestido-de-novia-segun-tu-tipo-de-cuerpo
https://quierounabodaperfecta.com/5-tipos-de-faldas-en-los-vestidos-de-novia/
Book Colour Me Beautiful, 1984 by Carole Jackson 

La Costa Verde´s Beach Circuit

“La Costa Verde,  as it is known popularly, has about 20 beaches that cover the capital districts of Miraflores, Chorrillos, Barranco, San Miguel, Magdalena Del Mar and San Isidro. Lima is one of the few capitals in the world with access to sea and beautiful cliffs, which are an important tourist attraction.

These beaches have activity all year, although it has a greater number of bathers during the summer months. In ”la costa verde” there are many recreational activities for tourist, such as: surfing, paragliding, soccer, volleyball, concert areas, restaurants, social clubs, as well as areas for fishing.
 
The beaches of the South Asia Boulevard

The Asia Boulevard is the most exclusive one of Lima. This complex has branches of the most important businesses in Lima, such as restaurants, bars, lounges, nightclubs, department stores, cinemas, supermarkets, hairdressers, shoe stores, jewelry, decoration and fashion, but the beaches have rough surf, so you need to be cautious.
Here on the picture is Cantuarias Beach.

Silencio Beach
A postcard cove. This beach has thick white sand, and it’s surrounded by restaurants and nightclubs. It’s located a little over half an hour away from the capital.
 
Señoritas Beach
It’s similar to El Silencio beach. This beach has a semicircular coast with a calm sea and thick white sand.
 
Caballeros Beach
It’s ideal for surfers! The surfer community knows it as Pico Alto. It is located at Km 40 of the Highway called Panamericana Sur.
 
Pulpos Beach
This beach is modern and its residences fill the seascape with color. The beach is curved and long and its sea is rough. It is at Km 40 of the Panamericana Sur
 
Punta Hermosa Beach
This beach is traditional, and has several pleasant beaches, with mostly soft waves. Punta Rocas stands out with its beaches  being ideal for surfers. On this beach a surfing championship takes place annually and usually ends in a youth music concert.
 
San Bartolo Beach
It's the biggest beach in the south of Lima. It's beaches are perfect to practice sports, such as: fishing, surfboarding and sea kayaking. On December 8th, the Immaculate Conception festival is celebrated here. It is located at Km 51 of Panamericana Sur
​Here a picture of the sunset on this beach.
​

Santa Maria Beach
It is an exclusive family beach. It has luxurious residences and modern apartments. There are beaches like El Cangrejito and Embajadores, nice and small quiet beaches shaped like a half moon. You can also find here the Yacht Club and the Club La Esmeralda.
 
Northern  Beaches
​
Ancon Beach
Although, we must recognize that the most famous beaches of Lima are undoubtedly in south of city, we can not fail to mention one of the most emblematic beaches of Lima;Ancon, which has historical value and tourist potential. Few decades ago this beautiful beach was considered one of  the most exclusive in South America. One can not fail to mention its historical value for all Peruvians, because it was where the famous treaty of Ancón was signed, which put end to the bloody war of the nineteenth century between Chile, Peru and Bolivia. If we go further back, we see that in pre-Columbian times different cultures have converged here, one of the most outstanding is the Chancay culture. So when you visit Ancón you must visit its museum. This area has several beaches with a calm sea as well as some with many waves.
 
Santa Rosa Beach
This is the most exclusive beach in Northern Lima. It has beautiful summer residences and restaurants that are full during summer season; the beaches are generally calm.
 
 
References
http://www.guiadelima.com.pe/turismo/guia-de-playas-del-sur
https://erasmusu.com/es/erasmus-lima/blog-erasmus/ancon-el-balneario-por-excelencia-de-lima-norte-431652
 

The Ica Province in Peru has much to offer to the tourists looking for history, culture, nature, and adventure. Here are some of the places in Ica that you must visit.
 
Nazca Lines
These ancient geoglyphs are found in the Nazca Desert between the Nazca and Palpa populations, in Ica. These lines were traced by the Nazca culture; they form various shapes that can be as simple as lines and complex as zoomorphic, phytomorphic and geometric figures made on the land surface. In 1994, the Unesco Committee declared these lines as World Heritage. This colossal pre-hispanic art piece will bedazzle you.
 
Tacama Estate
It’s a beautiful historic place! The estate has restaurants, vines, and a wine factory; tourists describe the visit to this place as a lovely experience. For those who travel with kids, it is recommendable to spend the day in this place because there are games and entertainment shows for the little ones.
 
The Ica Dunes
There isn’t a more deserted landscape than the Ica Dunes. Dunes are sand mounds that move with the wind; they can be found in any sandy coasts, river shores, lakes or seas. The magic of these dunes is found on their constantly changing shapes and sizes, because of that, we can see dunes of less than 3 ft. or more than 330 ft.
These dunes are also the perfect place to practice sports such as sand boarding, sand skiing or a buggy trip through the Huacachina Dunes.

 
Huacachina Lagoon
In the middle of the dunes, the Huacachina Oasis emerges; it originates around the lagoon of the same name. This natural lagoon of emerald colored water originated due to the emergence of underground streams. There is an abundant amount of vegetation made of palm trees, Huarango and Eucalyptus (introduced species) that allow migratory birds to rest. For all of this, Huacachina is one of the most colorful and beautiful places on the Peruvian coast. Rides through the lagoon are offered; it has wide lanes to wander and has a variety of restaurants in the surroundings.
 
Canyon of the Lost
The canyon is located 2 hours away from Ocucaje’s square. It is a short walk that goes between lakes, clay pyramids, and fossil deserts. This canyon is an impressive geological formation, created by the patient water flow through ravines seeking the ocean for millions of years. This place became an attraction for both scientists and tourists from all around the world. The beauty of its colors and the charm of the Canyon of the Lost, make this place a natural jewel.
 
Tambo Colorado
Tambo Colorado, also known as Pucallacta or Pucahuasi. Is an old Inca settlement located in the Pisco River valley. This beautiful adobe building is considered the best Inca urban-administrative complex in Perú. Its name is a mixture of words: the Quechua word "Tampu" means resting place, and the word in Spanish "Colorado" was chosen because of the red, white and yellow paint used to decorate its walls. We also recommend visiting The Site Museum where archaeological pieces found in the area are shown.
 
References
https://www.tripadvisor.com.pe/
http://www.arqueotur.org/yacimientos/complejo-arqueologico-tambo-colorado-y-museo-de-sitio.html