Spice Island

The Country - Grenada is a West Indies island. Affectionately known as spice island (nutmeg to name a few). The island is humid and tropical. Dry season is from January to May. Rainy season is from June to December. The island follows the Atlantic Time Zone which is 1 hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

The Island - The islands terrain is a result of its’ volcanic origins. Has a rugged interior and a coastal area. Consists of mountains, valleys, crater lakes, coastal plains and mangroves.

The Airport - Maurice Bishop International Airport is the local international airport. The airport is small in size. Not an airport where you can sit down and have a nice meal. More of a pick up quick snacks and go type environment. Since it is a small airport you will less likely have to deal with a lot of hustle and bustle.

Lodging - We decided to stay at the newly built Six Senses La Sagesse. The resort is a beautiful resort which opened April 2024.

Resort Highlights - This is a resort that focuses on wellness. It is smaller in size to some other resorts with 56 pool suites and 15 villas. All suites and villas have some sort of water view (lagoon, bay, ocean). All suites and villas have a separate shower and tub. Golf cart transportation is provided for movement throughout the resort. Rooms contain mini bars that are fully stocked with local beverages (with no artificial ingredients) and homemade snacks. The are several dining choices. You can choose from Farm-to Table all day dining, seafood restaurant, pool bar and grill and in room dining. Sustainability is a key concept throughout the resort with very lIttle use of plastics or materials that cannot be recycled. There are lots of activities (for both adults and kids).  Two pools, aside from the private pools each suite and/or villa has. There is also a multi-villa spa where guests can book amazing treatments. Cultural experiences (offsite and onsite) can be arranged by staff at the resort upon request. There are a number of kids areas and programs to keep the younger people active. The resort offers a variety of transportation options to and from the airport. I often book my own transportation through connections I’ve made over the years. In this case I would recommend guests book theor transportation directly through the resort.

Final Thoughts - I’ve traveled many places in the Caribbean, but this was the most amazing country I have visted thus far. Grenada truly is one-of-a-kind and I’d recommend that travelers put this destination on their list of places to visit.

Recommendation Score - Highly recommended for families, couples and singles.

Resort Rating (1-10, 1=lowest, 10=highest) - 9

Part 1 - Room Tour video now available on our YouTube channel!  Scroll down to the bottom of this page to access the YouTube icon.

Part 2 - Resort Tour video now available on our YouTube channel!  
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Cliff Notes Video now available on our YouTube channel!
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United Arab Emirates

The Country - Emirates, is a West Asian country, located in the Middle East. The UAE is made up of seven emirates. Abu Dhabi is the capital. The country has the 4th largest economy in the Middle East. following Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

The Airport - Dubai in particular has two major airports. Dubai International Airport (DXB), is the primary airport. As of 2023, the airport was the busiest airport for international passenger traffic. Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC - Dubai World Central) opened in 2013 to passenger flights and is quickly expanding.

Transporatation to and from the mall is easy. You can either take a metrorail or Uber. We chose to use Careem, the Emirates version of Uber. Uber is available, however Careem is less expensive. The metrorails can be tricky as there are rules that apply. I would liken this part of the trip to that of Japan. Everyone follows the rules and both countries are spotless (no trash, litter, chewing gum, etc.).

We flew Emirates simply because they have direct flights without layovers from where we live. I prefer non-stop flights unless there is an airport I want to spend a little bit of time in it. By the way DXB is one of those airports. The airport is a shoppers paradise!

Lodging - We chose to stay at St. Regis Dubai the Palm. At the time the hotel had just started taking reservations. This was during the height of the COVID-19 epidemic. This highend hotel is definitely worth the cost. I’m a very picky traveler so where I lay my head is one of the most important parts of my travels.

Resort Highlights - The location of rhe resort was perfect. It is located on The Palm (a manmade island shaped like a palm tree). While the hotel has two restaurants, and a beach club of its own, the island is sprinkled with several equally as nice hotels and restaurants.

Conveniences:
The hotel has two 50th floor pools (one gets sun most of the day and the other gets shade most of the day). The hotel is attached to Nakheel Mall, which offers additional eating options, a grocery store, shopping, movie theater, drug store, currency exchange, and quick access to the metrorbail.

Local Transportation:
Did I mention metrorail? Yes, The Palm has its very own metrorail, which made getting around on The Palm a breeze! The amazing thing is that the metrorail is so refined that you won’t hear or smell fumes from the metrorail. Its actually a pretty amazing sight to see! The cost to use the metrorail was very minimal. Multi-day passes are available and what we opted to purchase.

Culture:
The country is unlike any other country that I have visited. While it is a Muslim country, it is nothing like one would expect if you have never visited. While as a visitor you should definitely do your research, following their laws is not optional. Women are not required to cover up completely. You will see many of the Emirate women wearing burkas and all of the Emirate men wear kanduras or dishdasha. Refrain from showing your shoulders, chest area, and anything above the knees. This is not one of the Caribbean islands after all…….

Shopping:
I live in an area that pretty much has access to anything imaginable in terms of shopping. Dubai is similar with a number of highend malls. The Dubai Mall is by far the largest and is well worth a trip. While beautiful, I found the Dubai Mall to be a bit overwhelming in a good way. Interestingly enough while Emirate men and women are covered up in public they are a stylish group of individuals. Something only shared with spouses and family.

Traditional souks are plentiful and are great places to find unique gifts and memoirs. Be prepared to haggle though, as it is a part of the culture. We visited the Gold and Spice souks along with some smaller souks we saw during our travels.

Food:
While Emirates are the natives, Dubai is comprised of people from literally everywhere. If you take the time to talk to and get to know some of the locals you will quickly figure this out. We met people from all around the world that now call Duabi home. It was one of the dopest parts of the entire trip. That being said, as long as you are an aventurous eater you will find something good to eat! The variety of food options was another highlight of the trip. It is a foodies paradise!

History:
If history is your thing (and it really should be since you are visitng another country), you will definitely have plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in it. We took an evening desert safari tour with Platinum Heritage. We chose this company because they are sustainability conscious, care about animal welfare, and offer a more upscale experience.

Burj Khalifa (tallest building in the world) is another popular activity that we participated in. To be honest while beautiful, I would only recommend if you like to capture amazing photographs during your travels, otherwise I would skip this.

To keep the review on the shorter side, I’ll stop here. Rest assured there is plenty more to do. We’ll post some photos in our gallery and more indepth videos on our YouTube channel.

Final Thoughts - If you have never been to the Middle East we would recommend that you go! Forget what you have heard and go experience the country for yourself. We will definitely return for a second trip, sooner rather than later. You definitely need to be an adventurous person and willing to step out of your comfort zone.

We traveled in August. Honestly I would never recommend ANYONE travel to the Middle East in August and this is coming from someone that LOVES HOT weather. I’ve never felt anything quite like the HEAT in the Middle East. Babbyyy we were not ready for it! The good thing about this time of year, is there was NO RAIN in sight. A trip to the Middle East is best for adults or teenagers and young adults. I couldn’t image going with smaller kids (there are always exceptions).

This is a trip you definitely need to plan ahead and do plenty of research. It is also a trip you can easily plan yourself. No need for a travel planner or a travel agent. Google is your friend!

Recommendation Score - Highly recommended for families (without small children), couples and singles.

Resort Rating (1-10, 1=lowest, 10=highest) - 9

YouTube video coming soon! Check back periodically…..

Mexico - Playa Del Carmen

The Country - Mexico, Playa Del Carmen is a coastal town.

The Town - The resort town is located along the Caribbean Sea in the southeastern state of Quintana Roo.

The Airport - Cancun International Airport is the local international airport. The airport is a nice sized airport. Although the airport is not an extremely large airport, it does offer a decent selectiion of food options and minimal shopping options. The resort is roughly 45 minutes from the airport.

Lodging - We decided to stay at Secrets Moxche. This trip was back in 2022 and the resort was brand spanking new. It is an adults only all inclusive resort part of the World of Hyatt collection (formerly AMResorts).

Accommodations -
We stayed in a club level preferred club junior suite swim out king tropical view. Total square footage for the suite is 823 square feet. You had all of the typical amenities that most 5 start resorts have. Reference the Secrets Moxche link above for a full list of room amenities.

• Wi-Fi
  Nespresso coffee maker
  Upgraded Minibar
  Clothes steamer
  Private Pool …….. just to name a few
  

Resort Highlights - This resort differs from your typical all inclusive resort in several ways.  The decor is quite modern.  It’s a new concept/class of resorts that is being introduced to the brand.  

• 6 resort pools

• 17 food outlets
  The Cove Bar (interior beach pool bar)
  Sugar Reef (pool & beach bar)
  Suki (Pan-Asian cuisine)
  Seasoul (fresh seafood)
  Moxche Lobby Bar
  Observatory (rooftop preferred club restaurant)
  Moxche Theatre (theatre bar)
  Market Cafe (international buffet)
  Mantarray (swim-up bar)
  Ember (steakhouse)
  Dos Almas (mexican cuisine)
  Dark Horse (sports bar)
  CoCo Cafe (coffee & snack bar)
  Bisou (french cuisine)
  Bamboo (southeast asian cuisine)
  Allora (italian cuisine)
  

• Spa
  Gym
  Theater
  Gift Shop
  Resort hot tubs
  Daily activities to keep you busy
  Nightly entertainment
  Off site excursions are available upon request

Final Thoughts - It’s been a couple of years since we visited this resort.  At that time the resort was new.  I enjoyed my stay here.  At the time it was probably one of the nicest all inclusive resorts I have visited.  Based on my experience back then, I would definitely recommend this resort.

Honorable mention is the rooftop pool for Preferred Club guests.  Although not very big it is a cool place to go eat breakfast every morning and then chill for the rest of the day!

If you are not an adventurous person when it comes to food, you may not enjoy the food outlets.  The food outlets were definitely a highlight of the trip for me!

There is a level of sophistication to this resort.  If you are looking for a spot to go and get rowdy this is not the place for you.  I’d suggest you look elsewhere considering the price point to stay at this resort.

There is nothing worse than going on vacation and staying at a resort that doesn’t have the vibe you are looking for! 

Recommendation Score - Highly recommended for adults and couples since it is an adults only resort.

Overall Resort Rating (1-10, 1=lowest, 10=highest) - 8.5

YouTube video coming soon! Check back periodically…..

Tokyo Japan

The Country - Japan. A country in East Asia with a population of 124.5 million people. I’ve traveled to Japan several times! By far Japan is definitely one of my most favorite destinations.

The City - Tokyo. The capital of Japan. You will find a mix of traditional and the ultramodern culture here.

The Airport (s) - Haneda International Airport (HND) & Narita International Airport (NRT). I’ve flown through both airports. In my opinion both airports are great airports with plenty of eating and shopping options. You can literally spend hours in these airports taking in all of the sights and sounds. Another shoppers paradise.

How do you choose which airport to fly into - Do a search for the distance the airport is from your lodging. For my most recent trip, I flew into Haneda International Airport (HND) simply for its’ convenience . There is an airport bus transport that has a stop right at the hotel we chose to stay at for this visit, which made arriving and departing the hotel (with luggage in hand - of course there are individuals who load and unload your luggage ) from and to the airport a breeze. 

Lodging - I’m a new hotel/resort type of person. Lodging is a very, very important part of all of my travel journey’s. If my lodging is not good, “Houston we have a problem”. Our hotel opened just a few months prior to our arrival (this trip was in 2023). Hotel Grove Shinjuku, was a good choice for what we needed. 

Highlights - 

• The hotel has a total of 21 floors.
  
  The hotel occupies floors 18 - 38 of the 48 story high Kabukicho Tower.  Most conveniences are available in the tower.  
  
  There is a premium cinema (movie theater), theater, live music venue, gaming aracade, interactive experience,  Jam 17 restaurant & bar (one of the hotels restaurants), Jam 17 Gelateria (coffee, gelato, cookies, etc.), and a Kabuki Hall (a food court that resembles yokocho alley)
  
  The  hotel is only 6 minutes from the Shinjuku Station (public metro transport).  Very walkable to and from the hotel and the station.  Japan has some of the cleanest, most modern, efficient transport in the entire world!

Accommodations - the room of choice was the Premier Suite. Located on the top floor of the hotel at 657 sq-ft.  One king bed, a sitting area, small dining area and the icing on the cake, two full baths.  Yes, you heard right two full baths, which always comes in handy when there is more than one person in the room.  If traveling as a couple, you can’t go wrong with this room.  The room was equipped with all of the little extras you will need during your stay.

What To Do - Tokyo is not a place for those with limitations as there will be lots of walking.  Driving in Tokyo or catching Ubers/Taxis is virtually impossible (think NYC several times over).  

Are You Adventurous?
If you are not adventurous, Tokyo is not the place for you.  To get the full experience you should visit the various districts (Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, Akihabara, Ginza, Roppongi, just to name a few).  Each district has its’ own vibe.  You will also want to consider vising some areas outside of Tokyo (Mount Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi, Oshino Hakkai, Hakone, Lake Ashi,  Disney complexes, Osaka, Kyoto, just to name a few).

Do You Like Crowds?
If you don’t like crowds, Tokyo is not for you.  The population in Tokyo is huge.  Add tourists on to that and you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed.  The nice thing about Tokyo, is the level of politeness and consideration the locals show.  Eveyone walks on the “proper” side of the sidewalk or escalator for example.  Note:  it is the opposite of how individuals walk in the U.S. for example (right leaning).  Individuals do not talk on the metro.  You won’t experience individuals smoking or eating while walking from place to place.  No littering.  It really is a sight to see and refreshing if you are from the U.S.

Are You A Foodie?  Do You Like Shopping?
The city is a foodie and shoppers paradise!  If you are not an adventurous eater again Tokyo may not be for you.  There a very few American brands available as it relates to food.  For those that you find, the food choices will be different.  I saw for example a McDonalds, Subway and Krsipie Kreme Doughnuts.  Krispie Kreme for sure is worth visiting as they for sure offer varieties of doughnuts that you will not find anywhere in the U.S.  

Have you ever heard the saying when in Rome do as Romans do?  One of the best things about Tokyo is the food.  Japanese food is my favorite so it is always paradise for me.

Eveything you can imagine in terms of shopping is available (even at the airport)!  There are local Japanese brands, plenty of vintage shops, and luxury choices galore.  Plan your budget before you go and stick to it would be my advice.  You can go broke in Japan!

Final Thoughts - I could go on and on about Tokyo!  In an effort to keep this review somewhat brief, I’ve given an overview.  I’d suggest that if you are considering Tokyo or Japan as a travel destination a few things…….

• Do A LOT of research
  Determine if Japan is actually a good fit for you
  Plan ahead (a year ideally)
  You’ll need to plan for a few weeks away to get the full experience
  Reference travel reviews
  Reference travel vlogs
  Get a Tokyo Railway Pass for multiple days (it will save you time & money)
  
  

Recommendation Score - I highly recommend Japan for a travel destination.  It is more of a destination for couples, friends, adults and possibly teenagers.  Again please consider the other things mentioned above prior to planning a trip.

Overall Hotel Rating  1-10 1- lowest 10 - highest: 10

Location Rating - 10 (I’m biased)

Airport Rating - 10

YouTube video coming soon!  Please check back periodically…..

Oahu Hawaii

The Country - United States

The Island - Oahu (known as the Gathering Place), an island that is a part of the Hawaiian islands. It is also the home of the state capital of Hawaii. The third largest island.

Island Regions - Windward Coast, Leeward Coast, North Shore, Central O’ahu and Honolulu.

The Airport - Daniel K. Inouye International (HNL).  It is a medium sized airport.  You will find several dining options.  Some shopping outlets to purchase souvenirs.  It isn’t one of my favorite airports, but it serves its’ purpose.  After all you don’t visit Hawaii for its’ airport!

Lodging - In this review I won’t focus on a specific hotel.  There are a variety of conventional lodging options to fit all budgets.  This is one thing I really appreciate about Hawaii.  Lack of lodging options should never be a reason to not visit Hawaii.  I’ve visited Hawaii many times and stayed in a different hotal each time.  

If you are interested in an all inclusive option, this type of lodging option is mostly nonexistent.  While there are resorts/hotels that offer an all inclusive option, you will find that the options are quite different from the typical all inclusive resort you will find in international locations.

Transportation - It’s easy to find roundtrip shuttle service from the airport to your lodging preference and what I would recommend for most travelers.  If traveling to Hawaii you most likely will stay for a significant amount of time considering the amount of flight time it takes for most to get to the island.

I won’t recommend a specific shuttle service just search for shuttle services via the internet.

• Check with your hotel/resort to see if they offer shuttle service.
  Pre-book your shuttle service so that you have one less thing to worry about.

What To Do? - There is so much to do on the island of Oahu. The islands most popular area is Waikiki.  In Waikiki, there is plenty of lodging, dining, and shopping.  The area is very walkable and it is easy to rent a car from there.

North Shore - Is an amazing area on the island however, if not staying in the area you will need to rent a car to get there.  This area is well known to surfers due to the size of the waves and the currents.

If you are not a strong swimmer I would not recommend that you get into the ocean, just view the ocean from the beach.

There are lots of interesting things to do on the island of Oahu.

• Visit the zoo

• Go snorkeling

• Visit Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial
  

• Attend a Luau

• Take a sunset sail

• Take a catamaran cruise

• Shop until you drop (from trinkets to luxury retailers)

• Spend time at the beach (Kailua Beach Park, Wakiki Beach, Sunset Beach, Sharks Cove, Kuhio Beach Park just to name a few)

• Rent a car and explore the island (for just a day or two maximum)

• Go zip lining

• Take a food tour

• See a performance at Blue Note Jazz Club

• Take surfing lessons (they even have lessons for young kids).

• Lots of other things to discover!  Do an internet search and plan or book your activities in advance!

Food - There are many food options on the island of Oahu, from McDonalds to 5 star restaurant options.  Keep in mind a few things when it comesto food …...

• There are lots of familiar American options available so the pickest eater should be easily satisfied.

• Remeber that although the restaurant may be  similar to what you visit on the mainland, menus will differ slightly.  For example McDonalds will offer a local favorite such as Spam.

• Food is expensive!  Lots of food items have to be shipped to the island (although things like fruit and vegetables are fresh and local).  Don’t expect the proces at the Cheesecake Factory to be the same as what you are used to on the mainland….

• Be adventurous and try some of the local fare!  It is some of the best food that you will ever taste and the cost of the local food I found to be less exepensive.

Final Thoughts -  Hawaii in general is an amzing travel destination!  The island of Oahu in particular is very family/group friendly.  If you are taking a multi-generational group, this destination has a little something for everyone.  It is a good introduction to travel for those that are just beginning their travel journeys.

A trip to Hawaii is more expensive than it is to lots of other travel destinations, simply because much of what comes to the island is shipped/imported.

You will want to plan your trip a year in advance at a minimum to insure that you have the time of your life.  Flights depending on where you are coming from can be very long.  For example from where I live the flight is roughly 10 hours.  I’ve flown non-stop and with one layover.  While I prefer non-stop flights, non-stop flights may not be ideal for groups with seniors or children.  

Lodging can also be pricey so you will want to choose your lodging as soon as possible and book early.  As mentioned before, there are lodging options for all price points available. 

You will likely want to spend quite a few days in Hawaii, especially since from most places the amount of flight time is more than your average destination.  Why fly 10 hours to your destination to only spend 3 or 4 days there?  You will want to account for jet lag as well and time to acclimate to a different time zone.  I typically stay two solid weeks minimum when I travel to Hawaii.  Even then it doesn’t seem like enough time.

Location Rating - 10 (scale 1-10, 1 lowest, 10 highest)

Airport Rating - 7 (scale 1-10, 1 lowest, 10 highest)

YouTube video coming soon!  Please check back periodically!!

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