Busy Year, Travel is Good, New Web Site Project

It's been a very busy year for Sally and me with travel! Sally has been to Jamaica three times, Riviera Maya last week and we are packing now to fly to Puerto Vallarta this Friday, Nov. 12th.

I actually tagged along with Sally on her last trip to Jamaica in August. We stayed at the Fabulous Sandals Whitehouse Resort.  This was a working get-away. We toured several Sandals properties while there. We had a wonderful time as guests of Sandals.

Me & Sally at Sunset Jamaica

Sally took several of her lady friends along with about 40 other women as they attended the W.I.N.O.S. (women in need of something) get-away to the Riviera Maya.



Our upcoming trip to Puerto Vallarta will be another working get-away but I think there will be some good downtime put into the schedule.  We will be touring some properties while we are in the area.  We will be staying at the Marival Residence and World Spa

Sally is looking forward to seeing her friend Norma who owns the Venus Sunshine Massage and Spa for another inexpensive excellent massage! I am looking so forward to meeting Norma and her staff of massage therapist for my first experience there.  Remember I was a professional massage therapist for 10 years and love my massages! Can't wait!!

We'll post our experience of this property and properties we tour as well as Venus Sunshine Massage when we get back.

Venus Sunshine Spa Puerto Vallarta

When you travel to Puerto Vallarta area you must schedule a massage with our friend Norma at Venus Sunshine Spa downtown.

The ladies here are professionally trained massage therapist. On the average fees are only $45-50 USD for a deep tissue full body massage. You would expect to pay closer to $80 an hour for the same treatment in the U.S.

We were here fall of 2010 and took 5 travel agents with us. They loved it!!!

Latest Travel Updates: Mexico's West Coast

We absolutely loved Puerto Vallarta and Rivera Nayarit! With a beautiful hospitable people and scenery that is second to none.

If you love Palm Trees like I do you will want to stay at the beautiful Westin Resort and Spa

Built on an old Coconut Plantation with over 200 mature palms!



Want to Step-up Your Game?

If you are looking for a more upscale experience try the Marival Residences and World Spa. Located in Rivera Nayarit these are beautiful condo like villas. An all-inclusive property where all really is included (except your spa services). We stayed here a week and plan on going back in November 2011.
We will be splitting our stay between the Marival Residences, Marival Resorts, Westin Resort and, downtown beach front property, the Buenaventura Grand. We really wanted to go back and explore each one of these fabulous properties and their surrounding areas.

Our spacious condo at Marival Residences and World Spa

A very good bottle of Merlot on the house



Street Performers Puerto Vallarta

Amazing aireal street performers on the beach downtown

Buenaventura Grand

Close to downtown for great shopping and right on the beach!

We loved the Buenaventura Grand. We plan on staying here Nov. 2011

Sally's BFF Louie the Silver Guy

Sally buying her silver from Louie on the beach

Louie is located right by the Marival Resort

We've all done this before!

Our friends Josepha and Kevin burying Yasmina in the sand.

This is winter weather in Puerto Vallarta!

Massages and Spas

We did get our massages at Venus Sunshine Spa! Sally arranged for 5 of us to go in! One of the best massages I think I have ever had. I would highly recommend them to you! Our friend Onelly has promised to take us to a spa that the locals go to next time we visit. $20-30 and hour. I'm in!

Book Your Own Travel

Do you like to find and book your own travel online, but like the idea of having a travel agent to ask questions of? If so check out SAND Travel.

 

Busy Travel Year and New Projects!

With Sally's new job as Group Coordinator for KHM Travel Group, the largest host travel company in the U.S. we have hit the ground running! Already this year Sally has been to Jamaica three times, Riviera Maya (2 weeks ago) and we are packing to leave for Puerto Vallarta the end of this week, Nov. 12th.

I actually tagged along with Sally on her last trip to Jamaica. We stayed at the fabulous Sandals Whitehouse Resort.  We had a great time and toured several other Sandals properties on the island.

Me and Sally enjoying sunset on our Jamaican beach

Sally took several of her friends along with about 40 other ladies on a W.I.N.O.S. get-away to the Riviera Maya in Mexico.  W.I..N.O.S. stands for Women In Need Of Something (I thought maybe time away from men?) They all had an amazing time shopping, dancing, feasting on great food and of course a bit of the nightlife.

Sally and her two amigos buenos. Hola!

We will be staying at the Marival Residences and World Spa near Puerto Vallarta. A beautiful property from what we understand. We are excited to see this property and experience all they have to offer as well as tour the other properties they have lined up for us to see.

Sally is excited to see her friend Norma again. Norma owns and operates Venus Sunshine Spas in Puerto Vallarta.  Sally tells me this is where she received one of the best massages she has ever had.  I said, "Really?!"  As you may know from earlier post I was a professional massage therapist for 10 years. She has received her fair share from my skilled hands!!

I am looking forward to meeting Norma and getting one of these really great massages!

Before I close, I have to mention my new project.... this is my baby! http://www.caribbean-cruise-travel-guide.com/

The website is a really labor of love. You will be able to find all sorts of great information about the Caribbean on it. Anything from the best cruise ports, what to do when you get there, best places to eat and drink.  Where to get the best prices on massages, where to sample as much free rum and tequilla as you want and much more. Even traditional Caribbean recipes including favorite island drink recipes.

Within a very short time it will be very interactive and you will be able to leave your comments and talk about your favorite Caribbean places to go and things to do.  It is live now, but is still getting content added almost daily so stay tuned!

Save Money at Little Known Spas Mexican Riviera

My wife took a cruise on Royal Caribbean to the Mexican Riviera last October and came across to really great spas that were just too inexpensive to pass up.

Mazatlan
She and several of her traveling companions decided to check them both out while in port.

While in Mazatlan, Mexico they took taxies to the Aroma Spa. It is actually a massage school started by the world famous spa consultant Knute Berry.

The Aroma Spa is located at 320 Mariano Escobedo in Mazatlan about a block and a half west of Machado Square.

The place is a bit rustic compared to USA standards, but you are in Mexico go with it!

Most of the massage practitioners are female, although there are some males. Depending on the time of year you are there you can expect to pay from $15 – 25 US for an hour to an hour and half massage. I am a retired Licensed Massage Therapist and I can tell you these are amazing prices! You could easily pay from $80 – 125 US for the same service!

My wife and most of her friends went for an hour and a half massage and paid around $20 apiece. Not bad for walking in unannounced.

They have something called a twenty-finger massage that sounds interesting. Two practitioners work on you at the same time. It’s supposed to be very relaxing.
Check them out at http://www.aromaspa.ws/ I see they are running a special through December 1, 2009 and are giving away a free 30 minute massage! Looks like you have to email them for a certificate! Wish we were headed back there during that time instead of January 2010. I would add that on to the hour and half massage I already plan on getting! Yes I do love massages!

Travel tips here:
* Do pay cash and avoid credit card processing fees
* Do leave a decent tip as that’s how they make a little extra money

Puerto Vallarta
While in Puerto Vallarta my wife and a couple of friends were told to try out the Venus Sunshine Spa located in the marina close to the lighthouse.

Venus Sunshine Spa is probably more of what folks from the USA would be accustomed to. The prices are a bit more mainly because this is an actual spa and not a spa school.

You will be more in the old town portion which will get you away from all the tourist locations and vendors. In our book that’s very nice.

Expect to spend around $40-45 each for about an hour and 15 minute massage. This is still a great bargain based on US prices. Enjoy yourself and tell other cruisers about these great spots to relax and save some money!