Wednesday 26 November 2008

New Sensatori Hotel in Cancun

I just came back from Cancun last week, and had a chance to stay at the new Sensatori Hotel that just opened 2 weeks ago. This hotel is approximately 35 mins from Playa Del Carmen, and is exclusive to Signature Vacations. From my experience, I think you will find this hotel to be just great.


The Sensatori Hotel is very kid-friendly. Here are some of the amenities available for families.
  • Strollers are offered at no charge

  • They have playpens/cribs and they are offered at no charge you can either preorder or there is a check list you can fill in upon arrival and they will then have items sent to your room

  • Gourmet Gerber baby food and there is a kid menu that they have in each restaurant so that kids can have that if they do not want what is on the main menu for adults

  • Baby monitors are available at no cost

  • Onsite store to buy diapers and misc items for the children

  • There is the splash pool that has kids things to play on

  • Toy lending library at the kids club - just sign out what is needed to take back to the room

  • Staff can be hired to babysit for a cost of $15.00 per child per hour – all staff that do this service have first aid and have completed a babysitting course

  • Toddlers welcome package includes smoothie shake with sprinkles, and an activity book.



  • There is the area by the Italian restaurant where the teens club is, so they can hang out with other teens on their own, and have things to do there that would be more what teens are looking to do. This area is always supervised so parents can let the teens go on their own, as there will always be adult supervision.


    All rooms come with the mini fridge. Tipping is included, however, like at any resort if you wish to tip for service above and beyond that is fine. The beach was good, swimmable and was the powder white sand.

    Although the hotel is not promoted as wheelchair accessible, the property seems fairly flat with ramps around. As with other Mexican hotels I've stayed at, the rooms are not equipped with the full bathroom for handicapped but the wheelchair will go through the door. Actually, as we were there a gentleman did arrive who was in a wheelchair, so that was good to see to know that one could get around in a wheelchair.

    Monday 10 November 2008

    Walt Disney World Vacation - Orlando, Florida

    My family and I just returned from DisneyWorld in Orlando, Florida. We had one of the best vacations ever and look forward to visiting again. DisneyWorld is for all ages, and is truly magical for all who visit. We visited during Halloween, and we actually dressed up and went "trick or treating" throughout The Magic Kingdom. Epcot was fantastic, their new ride Soarin' is the best by far and is great for everyone!

    DisneyWorld's Animal Kingdom Park was amazing. The Safari Ride was just like a real Safari, and we were able to see many animals in their natural habitat. No two Safari's are alike, so you need to take this at least twice. The park was amazing and beyond my expectations.


    Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort was lovely and actually had that Caribbean theme and feel. The complimentary transportation was very efficient to all Disney parks we and never a long wait. Our hotel room was a good size for all 4 of us and was decorated with Finding Nemo and Caribbean themes. The staff at the Caribbean Beach Resort were very friendly and helpful.


    Our SunWing Airlines flights were extremely comfortable. SunWing staff were all very courteous and efficient. The flights were always on time and, in fact, we arrived early on the return. They did offer complimentary meals and headphones on each flight, which was a nice surprise.

    Monday 3 November 2008

    New York Times Square Hotel Mela

    The Hotel Mela in New York City is ideally located less than one block off Times Square. This boutique hotel features small rooms, as with most hotels in central Manhattan. The following photo of a standard room with a queen bed shows the WHOLE ROOM (except for the bathroom).

    However, if you arrive at the Hotel Mela with this expectation, then you won't be disappointed. The price is great for the location. Times Square and the Broadway Theaters are all within easy walking distance. The front desk staff were always courteous, and offered directions and maps. I highly recommend this New York hotel for those seeking a central location at a smaller, boutique property.

    There are essentially 4 ways to get transportation from New York Airports to downtown Manhattan.
  • a) the infamous yellow cab - approx $50 from JFK, $30 from La Guardia, and $55 from Newark.

  • b) Super Shuttle van service - approx $21 per person from JFK, $16 from La Guardia, and $21 from Newark. While this is door-to-door service directly to your hotel, the route depends on the destinations of everybody onboard, and it could be a while before you reach your hotel.

  • c) bus service - New York Airport Service - $15 from JFK, $12 from La Guardia - bus service with direct service to Grand Central Station and Port Authority. Other destinations require transfers, and additional fares. One negative about NY Airport Service, it first makes a loop through all of the airport terminals before departing, so you can easily spend 45 minutes on the bus before leaving the airport property. From Newark, Olympia Bus to Port Authority is $15.

  • d) Public transportation - from JFK take the AirTrain ($5) and connect to the subway ($2), from La Guardia take the M60 or Q33 bus ($2).
  • Tuesday 28 October 2008

    Las Vegas at the Red Rock Resort

    I recently attended a business conference in Las Vegas at the Red Rock Resort and Casino. As with most conferences, I spent the majority of my day in the hotel, and very little time experiencing the Las Vegas nightlife!

    The trip started with an early morning in Toronto. I pre-cleared US customs in Canada in about a minute, using my Nexus card. The same was true on my return to Canada. The Nexus card can also be used at land border crossings. It's only $50 and is valid for 5 years. It's great to have if you travel to the USA often.

    I flew from Toronto to Las Vegas on nonstop flights with WestJet. The flights were on time, and time passed quickly with WestJet's satellite TV. WestJet recently changed to Terminal 1 in Las Vegas. Terminal 1 offers several shops for your last minute purchases, but the walk from the gate to the baggage is quite a distance. Although, since it took so long to get to the baggage claim, my bags were already there before I arrived.

    I had a Dollar car rental during my trip. In Las Vegas, all of the car rental vendors are in a single off-site location, with efficient and frequent bus service. There is always a bus loading for the car rental centre, and it's only a 5-minute drive. Unfortunately, after the quick trip to the car rental center, I spent 45 minutes in line to pick up my car. All of the other car rental companies had similar lines, and the only way to avoid the wait is to get a frequent renter account in advance with your preferred car rental company.

    The Red Rock Resort is a great place for those looking for a vacation getaway without all the busyness of the Las Vegas strip. It's located about 16 miles NorthWest of the Las Vegas airport/strip area. The adventure spa offers kayaking, horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing, river rafting, and more. Traditional spa experiences include manicure, pedicure, and massage. And, don't forget the kids, with a 16-screen movie theatre, a 72 lane bowling alley onsite, and Kids Quest, a floor-to-ceiling climbing maze and play structure. Or, leave the kids at home and enjoy the Red Rock Casino, nightclub, and many restaurants.

    I highly recommend the Red Rock Resort for a "non-strip" Las Vegas vacation. There is so much to do onsite. A car rental is a necessity, since cab fare from the airport is about $50 one-way. Add an excursion to the strip, and you can quickly spend $200 or more on taxis.

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