Welcome to Maximizing Moments, June 2019

Maximizing Moments is a periodic newsletter that is designed to help make your precious travel time more memorable – in many ways.

In This Issue**:
Celebrate with Travel
What is Wanderlist®?
Hotel Hopping in Antigua

A milestone is a cause for celebration…and what better way to kick up ones’ heels than a trip? We share our top bucket list trips for milestones. So no matter what you’re toasting to, celebrate with travel.

How better to celebrate a milestone birthday than with family and/or friends at Matakauri Lodge, Queensland, New Zealand?

Landmark Birthday

It’s my birthday and I’ll go where I want to! Whether you’re treating your grandchildren to a special trip when they hit double digits, whisking away your better half for the big 4-0, or throwing yourself a birthday bash with a posse of pals, make sure the trip is everything the birthday boy or gal dreamed of. Scratch something off your bucket list or surprise your loved one by putting a pin in the country they’ve always wanted to visit.

One last hurrah before college!

Graduation

In the wise words* of Vitamin C, “As we go on, we remember… all the trips, we took together!”Get away with your just-about-to-graduate senior one last time to celebrate their accomplishments as they head into this next phase of life! Take a long weekend or go on an adventure - it doesn't matter where you go as long as you are together to soak up the last few days before he/she goes off to college (and before coordinating vacation time gets a bit more complicated!).

*Maybe these aren’t quite the lyrics, but we prefer this version!

Special anniversary at Belmond Maroma

Anniversary

Whether you’re celebrating five years or 50, ring in the newest chapter of your love story with a trip to reignite the flame! Return to your honeymoon spot and reminisce on sweet times together, or branch out and try a new place neither of you have visited to create new memories with one another.

Happy honeymooners in Greece

Honeymoon

Make this a trip you won’t soon forget! Pick a spot you both want to visit and that suits each of your travel styles. Try a destination with a nice balance of relaxation and activities that is guaranteed to please all parties, like Costa Rica or Greece! For lovebirds wanting to jet off to a far-away land, consider delaying your honeymoon a bit to let yourself recover from post-wedding pandemonium. Don’t know where to begin and overwhelmed with planning your big day? That's when you call in your expert travel advisor!

The new Seabourn Venture expedition ship - booking now for 2021!

Retirement

When one door closes, another one opens. Kick off your new found freedom with an adventure! Plan an expedition to an exotic locale or get your body movin’ with an action-packed escapade. Or, if your retirement is all about relaxing and slowing down, how about that luxury cruise you've been yearning to take - for 7-24 days, or around the world, for that matter! You’ve got plenty of time! The new Seabourn Venture expedition ship can take you to special places from Europe to Antarctica beginning in 2021.

The pool at the Four Seasons Lanai

Babymoon

Relish in the peace and quiet ahead of welcoming your bundle of joy. Slip away to somewhere romantic and relaxing. Maybe a weekend at the spa or a few days in a beachside cabana is just what the doctor ordered!

A safari in Botswana is a perfect way to celebrate.....anything!

Just Because

Commemorate your latest achievements no matter how big or small! Let your Travel Advisor help you map out the perfect celebration for anything from a big promotion to a new set of luggage.

It’s easy to dream about travel
…to imagine the places you want to go
…and to picture yourself jet setting to new destinations.

But to create an attainable travel plan from those travel dreams is not so easy.

Not Anymore!

With Wanderlist®, you can take your aspirations and interests and turn them into a well-organized travel plan. During your Wanderlist journey, you work hand-in-hand with your travel advisor to capture your dreams and prioritize what matters most to you and your travel companions.

Your leisure time is one of your most precious, nonrenewable assets. Make the most of it with Wanderlist.

I am fortunate to be one of a select number of Brownell Travel Advisors to participate in advanced travel planning training for Virtuoso's Wanderlist program. If you would like more information about Wanderlist, please contact me by clicking here.

Antigua is an underrated Caribbean island that has so much to offer all varieties of beach lovers. Did you know that there are 5-star luxury all-inclusive resorts that take the meaning of all-inclusive to an entirely different level?

I recently had an opportunity to experience three 5-star all-inclusive resorts on the island - Curtain Bluff, Hermitage Bay and Jumby Bay - for three nights each where I got to know the heart and soul of each one of them. The three resorts, while all stellar in terms of accommodation and service, could not possibly be more different!

Is one better than the other? Not at all - but each has a unique character, ambiance and appeal that is all their own. Here are my brief thoughts on each.

Curtain Bluff

Located between the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, Curtain Bluff has an ideal location which brings with it a constant sea breeze that is so refreshing and pleasant even in the heat of mid-May in the Caribbean. Such an ideal location for a wonderful Caribbean island escape with your significant other, family and/or friends.

This resort knows service - from the minute you arrive at the airport, you are greeted with a smile by a member of the VIP Welcome staff and everyone else - from the front desk staff to the wait staff at the restaurants, housekeeping staff, beach attendants to the bartenders - who cannot go out of their way enough for their guests.

Don't get me started on the food - the dining is absolutely among the best in the Caribbean. Dinners are exquisitely prepared and presented and desserts are too tempting to pass up! And, every night there is entertainment that extends beyond dinner - a little something to please all.

We consider Curtain Bluff to be one of the best values in the Caribbean - especially for an all-inclusive - here, pretty much everything is included, from all meals, beverages, snacks, fitness center, tennis, and all water sports (non-motorized as well as water skiing, snorkeling excursions, scuba diving, etc.). The only activities NOT included are spa treatments, tennis/squash lessons, cooking and wine appreciation classes, and off-property excursions.

Curtain Bluff is perfect for families, couples, and multi-generational groups with a keen interest in outdoor activities and a discerning taste in cuisine and service. A resort with such a high return guest ratio is definitely doing something very right!

Hermitage Bay

The minute I entered the oasis of Hermitage Bay I knew it was the perfect destination for a romantic getaway. It doesn't matter what type of romance (although it does draw its fair share of honeymooners, for good reason), the scene is set. Charming bungalows strung along the beach or on the hillside perfectly spaced apart for privacy. A serene beach with widely spaced loungers - just enough for the guests of the 30 suites - is calm and inviting. Just raise your flag and an attentive beachside server appears!

The bungalows are comfortable enough for you to never have a need to leave - and, with in-room dining included, you may not have to. The hillside pool suites have spacious outdoor terraces with a large plunge pool, daybeds, sun deck, lounge chairs, a dining table and sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea. The beachfront bungalows are just steps from the water! Inside, the air-conditioned rooms (with screened jalousied windows and doors that can be left open to catch the sea breeze) are fitted with king-size mosquito-netted beds, large bathrooms with free-standing soaking tubs (with amazing views) and outdoor showers.

Service is impeccable here, with every member of the staff interested in making each guest feel like they are there only to serve them. The tiered dining room overlooking the beach is perfect for intimate dinners for two.

Hermitage Bay is the perfect remedy to the everyday stresses of life, a perfect retreat for those looking for a quiet, peaceful and restful vacation and the quintessential destination for a romantic, relaxing couples weekend or honeymoon.

Jumby Bay

Jumby Bay is one of those resorts that is like a secret hideaway. In fact, it seems as though only those "in the know" actually understand how special this place is. This is an ideal resort for any number of traveler-types - couples, families, friends, multi-generational groups and corporate retreats. While all these types are unique, those choosing Jumby Bay as their Caribbean destination vacation have a common thread - they want pristine surroundings, extraordinary accommodations, fine dining and excellent service. And there is an accommodation type that is the right fit for each one of them.

At Jumby Bay, you can stay in a resort room (beachfront or ocean view), suite (1 or 2 bedroom), villa (2-4 bedrooms) or a private residence (4-9 bedrooms). On a 300-acre private island, with accommodations spread throughout, it has everything any discerning traveler could want - tennis courts, 3 pools, 3 restaurants and bars (plus a beach bar), an amazing kids' club, blissful spa, an organic garden, and 4 1/2 miles of private beaches. Getting around all this is easy, with golf carts (included with all residences and villas) and bicycles at the ready, so you can wander freely and discover the island at your leisure.

For families, the Jumby Explorers children's club has tons of opportunities for outdoor activities and creative pursuits. Kids will have a field day!

All private residences are fully staffed, with housekeepers, house managers, butlers, gardeners and chefs. Guests in the rooms, suites and villas have an array of dining options, with special meals at the Estate House, more casual dining at the Veranda (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and the Pool Grill (lunch only, except Wednesday nights for Caribbean night).

There is so much to do at Jumby Bay for those who like to remain active on vacation - tennis, fitness center, snorkeling excursions, kayaking, paddle boarding, hobie cat sailing, and wind surfing. Also included are motorized water sports, including wake boarding, water skiing and tubing.

Your own private island paradise - what could be better?

Thank You for Reading Maximizing Moments!