My husband and I recently had the pleasure of traveling to Jamaica, staying at Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay.  While travelling is a little different in this COVID-19 environment, it wasn’t horrible, and we were so excited to be traveling again.
 
As our plane touched down in Jamaica, the famous song "One Love" by Bob Marley, went through my head.  This Jamaican song truly portrays and the warmth of the people of Jamaica from the moment you arrive.
 
When traveling to Jamaica, I HIGHLY recommend Club MoBay.  This VIP service and lounge allow you to be personally escorted through the chaos of security lines and crowded departure areas.  In addition to the personalize service, the Club MoBay lounge allows you to relax with complimentary Food and Beverages/Cocktails upon arrival or departure.  There is a fee associated with Club MoBay but believe me…It is worth it!
 
Sandals is a 5-Star All-Inclusive Resort and has 15 properties throughout the Caribbean.  Even though the Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort is only a 10-minute drive from the Montego Bay airport.  The Sandals Lounge at the airport allowed us to start our vacation right away.
 
Sandals Royal Caribbean offers 227 rooms, 8 Gourmet Restaurants, 5 bars, 7 pools, 5 whirlpools and a private island exclusive to Sandals Resorts.  Included with every reservation is unlimited food and beverages, private island adventures, non-motorized land and water sports, roundtrip airport transfers (Butler Suite and Club Elite guests have BMW private transfers), Red Lane Spa and Fitness Center, and WIFI.  
 
What can you expect at a Sandals Resort?  You can expect the ultimate in food, beverages, service, views and experiences. Sandals Resorts are truly ALL-INCLUSIVE.  They have a “No Tipping” policy through all their properties.  The only exception to that is, when staying in Butler Suite it is customary to tip your butler upon departure.  
 
Our accommodations were the beautiful Crystal Lagoon Honeymoon Penthouse Oceanview One Bedroom Butler Suite.  This suite provided a large balcony overlooking the main pool and the Caribbean Sea with truly breathtaking views.  Our 2 butlers, (they rotated shifts) Andre and Sheldon, made sure we were very well taken care of.  They were both AMAZING and such a perfect addition to our vacation!  Upon arrival to the resort we were greeted with a Royal Delight cocktail in the concierge lounge while we waited for our butler to escort us to our room.  In our room, we were greeted with a fruit tray and champagne.  
 
What is the role of the butler?  They take care of everything!  Our butlers took care of ensuring our luggage made it to our room, made dinner reservations, brought us a cooler on the beach with our favorite beverages, arranged a snorkeling adventure, filled our in-suite refrigerator and bar with our favorites, and brought a snack while we were getting ready for dinner each night.  The most special thing they did for us was, upon our return to our suite from dinner and evening entertainment, our jacuzzi tub with filled with bubbles and flower petals.  Butler’s can also arrange for a private candlelight dinner, in-room or on the beach.  
 
Everyone associated with Sandals was so friendly and accommodating and the guests were definitely happy to be there, ready to meet new friends and have fun.  It was a great escape during the pandemic.  
 
After enjoying our time of relaxation, great food, superb beverages, awesome entertainment and accommodations, it was time to leave.  Our butler Andre’ escorted us to our private BMW transfers and we were on our way back to the airport.
 
Worried about safety during travel?  Don’t.  We felt incredibly safe throughout our trip.  We were required to have a negative COVID test prior to departure.  Masks were required throughout the airports, on the planes and for airport transfers to the resort.  I felt the planes had never been cleaner.  All staff at Sandals were all required to wear masks (extensive safety and cleaning protocols were followed at the resort; however, masks were not mandatory for guests).  Hand Sanitizing stations are located throughout the resort.  With regards to Social Distancing…you were permitted to sit at the bar, however if you were not comfortable sitting at the bar there were alternate options available, and beach chairs and dining tables were spaced accordingly.
 
We were sad to leave Jamaica and are already missing it.  It was a much-needed escape. 
 
Want to plan your escape, or want more information regarding Sandals Resorts or Jamaica, let’s chat.  I can be reached at missy@trvlconnection.com or 706-550-5727.  
 
Like the song says….“Let’s get together and feel alright.”

The current pandemic has caused many of us originally destined for summer scenic views and romantic getaways to find ourselves in a new reality of grounded flights and “closed until further notice" signs. However, 2020 is going to come with some unexpected advantages when booking or rebooking those trips... 
1 - Additional perks for traveling in 2020
2 - Limited Capacity (less crowded)
3 – Unique itineraries/experiences
4 – Vendors are offering Peace of Mind policies for those individuals hesitant to book now, even if your travel plans are in 2021/2022.
5 – Upgraded Experiences by offering more money toward future travel (if your reservations were cancelled due to COVID-19)

One question I get asked a lot is, “Why should I use a travel advisor when I can do it all online myself?” This is my favorite question! My question right back to you is, “Why wouldn’t you?” According to Forbes Magazine, there are five reasons to use a travel advisor: "They can find crazy deals; they will be your advocate; they’ll take care of the little things; they’re true experts; they don’t usually cost extra, and that is just the tip of the iceberg.” As your Travel Advisor, my responsibility is to provide you with insight, guidance, and answer questions to help YOU make the best decision based on your circumstances.

As a travel advisor, I know that people may feel limited by their vacation budget. I also understand how this can affect your vacation aspirations and that it may even keep you from exploring vacation options. When I work with clients, we carefully explore their travel budget and I make sure to find the best options within that budget. We are dedicated to helping people receive the best possible value. 
Best of all, travel advisors will share all of their professional guidance at no extra cost! Travel advisors know exactly where to go to get the information that you need and can find travel options within seconds. Planning a vacation with an agent saves time and money because they will handle all travel arrangements. Travel advisors devote time and effort to making sure people are happy and satisfied with their travel options. If clients need any assistance, agents are just a phone call or email away, so the travelers will receive immediate attention.
When things go wrong (and they do), we are there for you. You have a contact person that you can call to help with all the details of your travel from planning a candlelight dinner on the beach to celebrating your anniversary, or even to being stuck somewhere in the middle of a pandemic and can’t get home. 
Whether your vacation takes you to the Caribbean, Europe, Disney/Universal Studios, or to many different destinations on a cruise ship, don’t worry because travel is opening back up... slowly but surely. Things may look and feel a bit different for a while, but when the time is right for you to travel, a travel advisor will be there for you. 

I would love to help you plan your next romantic getaway, family vacation, or help answer any of your questions, so please reach out to me directly at missy@trvlconnection.com. For additional information, you can also visit our website: www.trvlconnection.com.

​I can’t wait to connect with you!