Grace Bay Club: Perfecting Perfection

by Julie Caldo, CTC, MCC


Once in a while a place comes along that exceeds all expectations.  It happened during our first stay at Grace Bay Club on Turks and Caico so we decided to return a second time.

Upon arrival both times we were welcomed with a cool towel, choice of cocktail, personalized check-in and introduction to our personal concierge.  Jerome took care of us the first visit and Kenny on the most recent.  We were personally escorted to our stunning villa suite and handed a cell phone to contact our personal concierge for anything we may need.  With that personalized service and the most magnificent beach I have seen, my love affair with Grace Bay continued.  Note, doesn't matter what category you book, everyone has their own personal concierge and is treated as a VIP!  Grace Bay's creative team is masterful at designing hand-made experiences and unique venues.  Cocktails at the Infiniti Bar followed by a special fire pit dinner at Infiniti is a perfect evening in paradise.  Bierre et Boules (Beer and Balls) is a very cool Pop-Up beach restaurant reinterpreting the classic meatball in to savory dishes.  The list of delightful must-do's is extensive so talk with me when you are planning your stay so you don't miss a thing...

Whether you are traveling as a single, couple, family or multi-generational family, Grace Bay Club has fabulous, spacious suites to suit you.  Suites start a generous 1080 square feet and have stunning views of that breathtaking beach.  Each has at least one private balcony or patio along with kitchenette and twice daily maid service.  There are full kitchens in the two bedroom and larger suites.  A variety of Elemis products are offered in the bath.  If you are looking for enhanced exclusivity, The Estate offers a collection of 22 custom-designed residences; like a luxury home.

The Collection, exclusive beachfront residences,is now available offering 4 or 5 bedrooms.
Ask me about these amazing accommodations for your next family vacation.

Norwegian Breakaway

Norwegian Breakaway:  Amazing Cruise Adventure in Our Own Backyard

By Julie Caldo, CTC,MCC

The new Norwegian Breakaway made its long anticipated debut in Manhattan this May.  We were fortunate to be on the list of exclusive guests to experience two nights onboard and share the uniqueness of this amazing ship.  I have been in the travel industry for 30 years, sailed on 65 ships and can tell you The Norwegian Breakaway stands on its own with the most innovative design currently at sea.  I respect management at Norwegian Cruise Line for really taking the best of the best and developing The Norwegian EPIC followed by The Norwegian Breakaway.  Both are winners and should definitely be on your list if you truly love a cruise vacation.

Outstanding venues are The Waterfront, a quarter mile oceanfront promenade with outdoor restaurants, bars and shops.  Dine al fresco, meet for cocktails or take a stroll to get a Sabrett hotdog!  Cake Boss, Buddy Valastro has some decadent desserts available here for those who really want to indulge.

678 Ocean Place, three decks of day time and night time entertainment, offers up the best bars, dining, shopping and nightlife venues.  The design allows a continuous, effortless flow from one treat to the next.

Aqua Park and Sports Deck has multi story waterslides including Free Fall (fastest waterslide at sea).  For the courageous a Walk the Plank experience eight feet over the side of the ship is offered.

A true New York experience would not be complete without top notch shows; Rock of Ages, Burn the Floor and Cirque Dreams and dinner – Jungle Fantasy. All are outstanding choices and waiting for you to enjoy.

The Haven by Norwegian is an enclave of exclusive accommodations for passengers looking to experience a boutique, luxury resort at sea.  Private Key access, 24 hour butler service and dedicated concierge are some of the wonderful amenities you and your family will enjoy during your time onboard.  An exclusive restaurant, bar and pool are also included in the two level private beach club.        

I recommend The Haven Owner’s Suite, The Haven two-bedroom Family Villa, The Haven Courtyard Penthouse or The Haven Spa Suite.  All have private balconies.  All of these choices can be tailored to work for multi-generational families, couples or individuals looking for a five-star luxury resort experience.

Norwegian Cruise Line has put together an unprecedented creative team including The Iconic Rockettes (The Godmothers of this wonderful ship), Peter Max (designer of the ship’s hull), Geoffrey Zakarian, Food Network Celebrity Chef and creator of Ocean Blue Seafood Restaurant onboard and TLC’s Cake Boss, Buddy Valastro to complete the quintessential New York experience onboard.

The reviews are in and The Norwegian Breakaway has officially ROCKED New York!
I hope you will share the excitement and call us on 201-891-0070 to plan your next cruise....

 

Norwegian EPIC

Norwegian EPIC:  A Floating Vegas!

 

Last December we decided to do a pre-Christmas cruise on the amazing Norwegian EPIC.

If you love the luxury, variety, freedom and lively atmosphere of a Vegas trip, you’ll love Norwegian EPIC!

This cruise was a welcome break before the holiday RUSH and a wonderful time of year to take advantage of some great promotions. 

We are huge fans of Norwegian Cruise Line and their revolutionary Freestyle cruising concept and for the past 12 years have enjoyed all types of accommodations fleet wide from balcony staterooms to penthouses and owner’s suites onboard.  There’s a perfect fit for the most cost conscious to the most discriminating passenger.  The Haven, a private, exclusive club floor onboard mirrors a floating luxury, boutique hotel offering butler & concierge service, private lounge, outstanding restaurant and a whole host of other amenities only available to guests who expect only the best!

Restaurants and shows onboard definitely get a thumbs -up.  Personal favorites are Cagney’s steakhouse,  Le Bistro (French),  O’Sheehan’s  Bar & Grill, Moderno Churrascaria, Cirque  Dreams and Legends In Concert.  Be sure to experience all if you’re planning a week long cruise.

Favorite areas on the ship:  Spice H2O (adults only Ibiza-inspired beach club at back of the ship), Mandara Spa,  Aqua Park consisting of 2 pools, 5 hot tubs, kid’s pool, three multi – story water slides, 200 ft EPIC Plunge (only tube slide at sea).

Nickelodeon entertains everyone onboard.  You never know when you’ll turn around and see Sponge Bob looking for a photo op!

If you’re looking for a Caribbean or Europe cruise, Norwegian EPIC is the ship of choice.

Voted “Best Overall Cruise Ship” by Travel Weekly 2 years in a row!!

 

 

 

Ca' Sagredo:  A Venetian Dream

 

Ca' Sagredo is a unique place to stay if you would like to experience the true Venice.
A 15th century palace turned luxury hotel still gives every guest the feeling of a private residence.
Located on The Grand Canal, about a 25 minute walk to Piazza San Marco, Ca' Sagredo is a wonderful gem.  If you love VIP treatment, you have made the right choice.  We have excellent contacts with management to insure the best for your stay.

Away from the crowds of Piazza San Marco, you will experience Venice as a local with amazing shops and fabulous neighborhood restaurants.  Stroll and have it all.  A gondola ride is at your front door along with a wonderful cafe.

Restaurant L'Alcova, in the hotel, has a beautiful terrace on The Grand Canal.  Dine with delicious mediterranean cuisine featuring a superb location.

 

We did a tour of The Venetian Islands with our own private boat and captain.  Ask me to arrange this special excursion for you.  We visted Murano, world famous for glass-making and Burano, a quaint island with beautiful canals and colorful buildings.  This is a great place to shop for gifts and learn about the tradition of lace making.

Perfect for pre and post cruise stays as you are mniutes away from the port.

For a true Venetian experience, choose Ca' Sagredo.

About Me

I have been experiencing and selling luxury travel for 30 years.

The Cove:  Atlantis Delivers Ultimate Luxury

Atlantis has always been a top resort for us to recommend with great success.
For years I’ve watched customers continue to return year after year and wondered even after walking thru the place what the lure could be. Our arrival was amazing!  The magnificent open-air lobby was a gorgeous combination of water and nature.  We exhaled and the magic of The Cove started to unfold.  After having a personal escort to our impressive deluxe ocean suite, we settled in and decided to explore.  There are 20 swimming areas catering to every desire.  From zero-entry and children’s pools to free form and formal pools.  The Cove is situated on two of the most outstanding beaches in the world – Cove and Paradise beaches.   If you’d rather relax by the pool, 2 unique experiences are located at The Cove and Paradise Beaches.  Adults can indulge in the vibe at Cain and all ages can have fun at Cascades.   Amenities at Cain are bar service, beach concierge and plush day beds.  Poolside and beach Cabanas are available for daily rent with a personal concierge.
We experienced other new additions to the $1 billion collection at Atlantis namely a 63 acre thrilling waterscape Aquaventure and beautiful Dolphin Cay.

If you enjoy great dining, you’ve come to the right place.  There are 20 culinary choices at the resort and Marina Village.  At The Cove we enjoyed Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill featuring Southwestern cuisine at it’s best.  Bahamian Club and Café Martinique were also favorites.  For a wonderful casual buffet experience, Mosaic at The Cove was excellent.  Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

For casino lovers, the Caribbean’s largest is here.  And after you’re through you can stop in at Aura, the new, two-story upscale nightclub operated by Pure Management Group.

We love to cruise but agreed The Cove & Atlantis experience was another great option because it not only offered all activities and fantastic dining options but also delivered with luxury suite accommodations and concierge service.  The best of the best can be experienced on a land based vacation.

 

 

 

Pompano Beach Club:  A Bermudian Charmer

After getting through this long cold endless winter we were looking for an easy trip to exhale and catch some much needed sun.  Because we’ve traveled so much and have many favorites, we went around and around but always ended up with Bermuda as one of our all time favorite places.  The flight (under 2 hours!), outstanding beach, amazing sunsets and simple beauty all played a part in our return to the charming Pompano Beach Club.  The hotel is family owned and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.  The Lamb family is currently in their 53rd year of “inn keeping” in Bermuda.  Pompano was the first “fishing club” on the island but soon after evolved in to a small resort.  All the guest room buildings are still named after local game fish to keep them in touch with their fishing club heritage.  The dramatic setting makes this lovely, personalized place an unforgettable experience.  Pompano is still the only resort in Bermuda that has a large, shallow sandbar – enabling guests to wade out for several hundred yards in knee to shoulder deep water at low tide.  Families are welcome and will find a kiddies pool, game room, shallow water ocean swimming, water sports center and 3 outdoor hot tubs children of all ages are allowed to use.  There aren’t any required dinner times for families with children.  Golfers will love having Robert Trent Jones designed Port Royal Golf Course right next door. 

The new Ocean Grill restaurant has a wonderful ambiance, drop dead ocean front setting along with impeccable, friendly service.  We were very pleased with the variety and excellent selections on this menu.  Desserts will satisfy any chocolate connoisseur.
It’s never been a better time to visit Bermuda.  Airfares are low and great vacation packages are available with good added value.


Pompano has been Trip Advisor’s #1 ranked Bermuda resort for the past five consecutive years.  This recognition is well deserved and has been earned thru the consistent, passionate attention given day in and out to the resort and each and every guest.