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Blog

A Day at Los Colibries Mayan Jungle Spa

1/16/2018

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​Located in Puerto Morelos, about a twenty minute drive from the resorts in this area, sits a lovely haven in the jungle - Los Colibries Mayan Jungle Spa. Designed for the ultimate outdoor relaxation experience, owner Valerie offers several packages for guests to have their worries massaged and soaked away in a lovely natural environment.
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​My husband and I opted for the 2.5 hour experience which included:

- Temazcal (sauna)
- natural body treatment (mud scrub)
- outdoor bath
- traditional Mayan massage


The current rate as of posting is $90 USD per person. Transportation from Puerto Morelos is included, or Valerie can arrange transportation for you from your resort. (We were staying in Playa del Carmen, and paid a taxi approximately $55 for roundtrip fare.)
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Once we disrobed (you may undress to your comfort level, and full nudity is acceptable for all treatments), we were escorted to the Temazcal, a small structure where we enjoyed time in the sauna followed by a cold shower. We repeated this process twice, gabbing with other travelers as we took turns rinsing the heat away in the outdoor shower. 
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Following our time in the Temazcal, we made our way to our (generally) secluded area to enjoy a relaxing massage and mud treatment. This tropical paradise felt like the perfect oasis to enjoy time away together as new parents.
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The final treatment for our spa day was a bath to soak away the mud. Being bathed as an adult felt both awkward and soothing, but we went with it and enjoyed a breeze through the palms and the opportunity to escape our day-to-day routine.
We enjoyed our time away from the resort, and we found the treatments to be both enjoyable and a fantastic value. 
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Ultimate Dream Destinations

12/14/2017

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this post originally appeared on our main page at www.destinationtravelco.com

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The 2017 results are in...

The December 2017 issue of Vacation Agent magazine featured a list of the top fifteen "ultimate dream destinations" as voted upon by American travelers surveyed by Travel Leaders Group. 

Did your dream destinations make the list?

1. Australia
2. Italy
3. Bora Bora
4. Ireland
5. New Zealand
6. World Cruise
7. Fiji
8. Mediterranean Europe Cruise
9. Greek Isles
10. Tahiti
11. European River Cruise
12. (tie) Antartica / South Pacific and Tahiti Cruise
14. Australia / New Zealand Cruise
15. France 

​Please visit Travel Leaders here to see the full article. 

Share your dream destination in the comments below! (Then contact me when you're ready to make it happen!) 
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Vegan "Mainstream Travel" Facebook Group

3/18/2017

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The most active section of my website is, without a doubt, the pages dedicated to mainstream vegan travel tips and the recaps of my vegan experiences on various vacations. After hunting around on Facebook, I noticed that while there are a number of pages dedicated to vegan travel (most of these more for the backpacker-workaway-city specific types of experiences), nothing existed to assist those doing more "mainstream" sorts of vacations such as Disney vacations, cruises, resort packages, etc. 

Fear no more, fellow vegans! Yesterday I launched a new group for this style of travel, and I invite all of you to come join us for feedback and reviews, photo shares, and q&a. It will be a friendly place, led by yours truly, to share our concerns and excitement for seeing the world as a vegan!

Spread the word, and come join us!
Vegan Cruises/Resorts/Disney Vacations
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Check out my mention in Travel Weekly!

7/31/2016

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I was recently contacted by reporter Jamie Biesiada to discuss the effects of Zika virus on our agency's bookings for various afflicted destinations and how we are assisting clients in light of Zika's spread.

While we have not seen much of a shift in travel plans in our office (our sales for the Caribbean and Mexico have actually increased in 2016), this article highlights how agents around the country are working with their clients, particularly, babymooners. It's a great read for couples considering a vacation while pregnant.

You can view the article in its entirety here.
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Summer Hours 2016

5/16/2016

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What a winter season it has been! I am looking forward to continue doing the job I love, but also enjoying warm summer days on my front porch and relaxing with my family.

My summer hours go into effect Memorial Day Weekend, and will be as follows:

Monday-Friday 10am-5pm
(evening availability by appointment)

Saturday-Sunday closed
(availability by appointment)

I will post my days off on Facebook and as a vacation response through my email account.
My longer hours will resume in the fall season.


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The Babymoon

6/22/2015

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On March 1, 2015 I learned I would become a mom, but my husband didn't know he would be a dad until two days later when I had a darker pink line to flash before his eyes. We waited to start a family for seven years (I am pretty sure potential grandparents had given up on us) but we knew parenthood was a responsibility and commitment we wanted to be more prepared for, and frankly, we had other things we wanted to do first as a couple. (Read: TRAVEL. Lots of TRAVEL.)

Knowing we would soon be stashing our passports for many months (sad face) to care for our little lady (happy face), we started planning a babymoon for the second trimester. As a travel agent, our plans must always come together last-minute, and our indecisiveness was particularly awful for coordinating this trip - I was really hoping to do a cruise, and my husband was really hoping to stay at an all-inclusive. The plans worked out for three nights at Secrets Silversands and four nights at Secrets the Vine, so that is what we ultimately chose to do. (Next trip, a cruise.)


We had always planned on having the sex of the baby be a surprise at birth, but after a few discussions during the week of our scheduled anatomy scan, we decided for many reasons that it was time to find out if it would be a he or a she. Because of my "old age" of 35, we could have found out at ten weeks, but held off for the element of surprise...ten weeks later we were whistling a different tune. Rather than finding out the news in the technician's office, we asked that she seal up the telltale photos in a card I had picked out for us to bring with us to open at Secrets Silversands, one of our favorite resorts.

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The plan: the first morning of our trip we would eat breakfast and then take the card to the Barracuda Bar overlooking the beach and Caribbean Sea for the big reveal. With its cool breezes, great views, and comfortable seating options, it's one of our favorite spots to hang out on the property. "How could you wait so long after having the results on hand?!? We had already waited ten weeks. Weren't you tempted to open them as soon as you got them?!?" No, not even a little bit. Honestly. Plus, I was freaking out internally...I really wanted a girl.

We got situated, took deep breaths, and opened the card together...
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​One of the most intense rushes of emotion I have ever experienced washed over me, and I immediately began sobbing upon reading the word "girl". Finding out the sex of our baby made this vacation even more special, and we spent a great deal of time in the coming days making a list of potential names. The entire vacation has been documented in our baby book to share with our daughter when she grows up, but I will never be able to put into adequate wording how thrilled I was to know I would be a mom to a daughter.

Random thoughts...We waited until my 20th week of pregnancy to travel - even though my morning sickness had been rather tame, I knew I would not want to contend with nausea while on vacation. I felt pretty good for the duration of our trip, and really only had one evening of ick.

I made sure to pack any medications I might need in my carry-on bag for easy access. I consulted my midwives before booking our vacation to be sure I was good to travel, and I would definitely recommend you do the same.

I did my very best to stay hydrated and kept out of the sun as much as possible - even with hunkering down under umbrellas and diligently applying sunscreen, I came home with a nice tan.

I packed various layers of comfortable clothes that accentuated my little bump and made me feel like a cute pregnant gal. Thanks to Beachbody Chalean Extreme workouts and water aerobics, I was able to rock a bikini as well, which felt pretty great too.


I am so thankful that my husband and I were able to share this week together as our final vacation before the arrival of our little one. It was a wonderful time for fun and making memories, made all the more special because of the opening of that little envelope.

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Secrets Silversands, Round Two - June 2015

5/30/2015

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Update: Secrets Silversands is not currently operational.

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My husband and I generally prefer experiencing new-to-us resorts, cruise ships, destinations, etc. with each vacation, so it truly speaks volumes that we couldn't hardly wait to return to Secrets Silversands for a three night stay in June.


Since I have already reviewed the resort in-depth (click here to read the post), I thought I would do something a little different for this post...please enjoy this list of my favorite things about Secrets Silversands Resort and Spa.

Reasons We Love
​Secrets Silversands Resort and Spa

Food, glorious food... The meals at all of the restaurants on the property are beautiful to look at and fantastic to eat. I have enjoyed some of the greatest vegan meals of my life while staying at this resort, and the entire dining staff has been unbelievably kind and helpful when working with me to prepare my meals or answer my questions.

Just say no...to annoying dinner reservations, pesky towel cards, and irritating wristbands. AmResorts have eliminated these hassles from their resorts, and Brian and I couldn't be more grateful. It truly makes vacation more relaxing.

Summer breeze, makes me feel fine...and there always seems to be a perfect breeze blowing through this resort, making the air feel quite pleasant while we enjoy the sun or shade near the pools. Be warned though - it sometimes picks up to a brisk wind! Hold onto your dresses, ladies!
One of our favorite spots at the resort is in the Barracuda Bar, located right on the beach - we enjoy drinking coffee and reading here after breakfast.
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Barracuda Bar - we love the couches in the corner!
Home sweet home...the suites and their bathrooms are large, clean, and comfortable. The air conditioning works wonderfully and creates a refreshingly cool room for guests. 

Swimming, swimming in the swimming pool...there are many pools to choose from on property, and each one has a completely different atmosphere/view. Several overlook the Caribbean, including the main pool where we spend most of our time. The new pool floats this summer were a great addition - they are like couches on the water. Sigh.

Bigger isn't always better...I actually prefer small-to-medium sized resorts, and Silversands is just perfect. It feels spacious, but it is easy to get everywhere with a very short walk. Most restaurants and amenities are located in one central building, which adds to the ease factor.

It's all about the staff...and this is the nicest staff I have encountered in Mexico thus far. Each person makes us feel at home, offering great service and lots of smiles.

New and improved entertainment...it is no "secret" that I was less than enthusiastic about the entertainment offerings during our last stay at Silversands, but I am thrilled to report that the quality of the evening shows/acts has improved drastically. The stage shows were better produced with better performers, and the smaller live musical acts brought in to entertain were super talented.
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the new bar / entertainment area
Because of the consistency of the property, I continue to lovingly recommend Secrets Silversands to all of my clients seeking a fantastic all-inclusive experience sans children. The rates for this adults-only option also tend to be less than many others, which really makes this option a standout from many others.

If you're interested in staying at Secrets Silversands Resort and Spa, or at any other all-inclusive resort, please contact me and let me help you plan a memorable vacation!
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While I receive discounted travel because of my career, I am in no way compensated for my reviews. My thoughts and opinions are my own, and are unaffected by the suppliers with which I associate.
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Holiday Gift Ideas for the Globetrotter - Maps 

11/1/2014

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Document your travels, commemorate a special event like a honeymoon or anniversary, or tell your love story with one of these special maps available on Etsy. 
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Holiday Gift Ideas for the Globetrotter - Toiletry/Make Up Bags

10/28/2014

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Bags are great, and I am obsessed. I love totes, reusable grocery bags, toiletry bags, make up bags...the list goes on and on. I am not into purses though - go figure.

For the globetrotter in your life, here are bags of all shapes and varieties...for when you aren't required the less-than-fancy clear bag for TSA checks. Click on each link below to be routed to the listing on Etsy.
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Holiday Gift Ideas for the Globetrotter - Travel Journals

10/23/2014

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Since the tender age of nine and my first memorable vacation (to New Symrna Beach, Florida and Walt Disney World), I have been an avid journal keeper during my travels. From Mead notebooks purchased from the local drugstore that held my pasted mementos and childhood memories to the more sophisticated books of my adulthood, I have left a great deal of scribbled pages in the wake of my travels.
Journals make a great gift for many reasons...
1.) who doesn't like to remember their vacations around the world?
2.) writing is good for the mind and good for the soul
3.) it is a personal, thoughtful gift - particularly if you purchase one themed to your loved-one's upcoming trip
4.) children can build all sorts of great skills through journal-keeping (this is the former teacher in me coming out)

These journals are all available through Etsy, one of my favorite sites for gift-buying. Truly, the items below represent just a small sampling of all of the awesome journals you can find on the site, so I would encourage you to do some exploring on your own as well. Click on the images below to be routed to the listing for that particular item.
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  • home
  • vegan travel
    • vegan cruises
    • vegan resort vacations
    • vegan @ Walt Disney World
  • plan
    • destination showcase
    • weddings >
      • general information
      • timeline
      • blog
      • AMResorts Weddings
    • all-inclusive resorts
    • cruises
    • international/domestic tours
    • Disney Vacations >
      • Disney Planning Info
      • Disney Cruise Line
    • honeymoons/anniversaries
  • blog
    • IG Blog Links
  • about
    • about me
    • about my services
  • testimonials
  • contact me
  • general FAQs
  • vacation reading