All-Inclusive

Jamaica is Calling!

January 17, 2021 By Marvelous Mouse Travels Leave a Comment

I recently returned from Jamaica and had the opportunity to visit Sandals Negril! It was so wonderful to travel again! Sandals resorts are doing an amazing job with Covid protocols. I was also very impressed with the precautions in place at Montego Bay airport as well. Sandals Negril is located along the longest and best stretch of Negril’s 7-Mile Beach! Lush landscape, white sand and a laid back vibe, what more could you ask for?

Although you will likely want to spend most of your time with your toes in the sand let’s take a look at one of the rooms here at Sandals Negril.

Imagine having your morning cup of coffee with this view!

The two story one bedroom butler villas with a tranquility soaking tub are so luxurious! This beautiful retreat features a spacious living area, a fully stocked wet bar and a smart TV. Upstairs you will find a king size bed and gorgeous bathroom with a rain shower and natural skylights. Best of all this category room comes with Butler Elite and 24 hour room service!

I loved the relaxing atmosphere here and so many places to grab a drink and sit, lounge or swing!

When you are ready to plan your next tropical escape I’d love to help you find the perfect destination! https://www.facebook.com/marvelousmousetravelsdonna

You can also reach out to our agency and be connected to Caribbean travel expert! Our services are complimentary when you book with us!

https://marvelousmousetravels.com/contactus/

Discover Sandals Resorts in Montego Bay!

November 30, 2020 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Our Marvelous Mouse agent Jen McGurn shares with us her recent experience at Sandals Royal Caribbean and Sandals Montego Bay! Protocols and procedures are always changing, be sure to check with your travel agent for the most up to date Covid requirements for your destination. If you do not have an agent reach out to us! We would love to curate your next adventure!

I recently had the opportunity to spend 5 days at Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort. During my stay, I toured the resort, as well as Sandals Montego Bay. Join me as I share information on both resorts, as well as talk about the health screening process required for entry into Jamaica and the safety protocols in place at the resorts.

Let’s start by talking about my trip preparation and arrival in Jamaica. Jamaica is requiring a negative COVID test for entry. At the time of this post, you need to be tested between 10 and 2 days prior to travel. My husband and I both tested at a local Urgent Care Facility and thankfully tested negative. Jamaica is very specific about the documentation you need to present in order to be allowed entry. This is where having a travel agent can be especially helpful! We literally saw people being denied entry because they did not have the proper paperwork! We made sure everything was in place, applied for our Travel Authorization and anxiously awaited our trip!

At our airport, we were required to present the appropriate forms and test results prior to check in. Once we arrived, all of our documentation was checked again at Customs. We booked a service called Club Mobay and I would never travel to Jamaica without it. We were greeted at the gate and escorted through the entire process. We bypassed a huge line and went straight through. The entire process took about one hour from touch down to resort shuttle.

Now, on to the fun stuff! Sandals provides complimentary transfers to and from your resort. For the transports, whether a shared shuttle or private vehicle (based on your room category), masks are required by the driver and all passengers. The 2 resorts in Montego Bay that I visited are a very short ride from the airport. We were greeted at the entrance with cool towels, water and porters who handled getting our luggage right to our room.

As guests booked in a Butler category room, we were taken to the Club Sandals lounge for private check-in. We were offered a variety of finger foods and beverages. We decided to toast the start of our vacation with champagne. Our Butler greeted us once check-in was complete and gave us a walking tour of the entire resort, even stopping to make sure we had the drink of the day right off the bat! He also gave us a complete overview of our room and asked what we would like to have our in room mini bar stocked with during our stay. Our room was absolutely beautiful! We had a large balcony that overlooked our semi-private pool, a King Size 4 Poster bed, and a jetted tub/shower combination. We also were located just steps from the main pool, dining and 2 bars!

Throughout our stay, we took advantage of the Water Sports that are included with your stay. We went snorkeling and enjoyed a ride on a glass bottom boat. We also spent quite a bit of time on the private island, which is just a short, complimentary boat ride away.

Let’s talk food and drinks! Between the two resorts, you have 21 Restaurants to choose from. They range from counter service options for pizza, sandwiches, Jerk Fish or chicken and Empanadas to full service, gourmet dining. There is something for even the pickiest eater. We primarily ate at our resort , but we did enjoy two of our favorite dinners at Sandals Montego Bay. We also loved Cafe de Paris, where we would go for iced coffee and sweet treats.

There are several bars located on each property, including swim up bars so you don’t need to leave the pool to get a drink! Each resort has a drink of the day, as well as your favorites. The bartenders are super accommodating and the drinks are made with top shelf liquor.

Alright, back to that Butler! Butler service is absolutely worth the splurge! Shout-out to Nicolas and Steve, our amazing Butlers. In addition to making dining and activity reservations for us, they also escorted us to dinner each night. Each night, they would check in to see what we would like in our cooler that they filled for us when they reserved us a spot on the beach. We were greeted by a treat or two each afternoon. We returned to fresh cookies, fruit and cheese plates, champagne, a bubble bath and flower petals on the bed. It was heavenly.

Having a Butler also means you can have room service. I awoke each morning to a delicious breakfast with fresh coffee and a Mimosa. Another perk of having a Butler is the private transfers to and from the airport. Nicolas escorted us to the BMW waiting for us on our final day, introduced us to our driver and loaded our bags into the car.

In addition to experiencing the resorts for myself, I also spent a day touring the resorts and seeing a wide variety of room categories.

I was so lucky to get to tour both an Over the Water Villa and and an Over the Water Bungalow! Check out my walkthrough below!

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2810553289234044

Regarding COVID, Sandals is taking every precaution to keep guests safe. As I mentioned, everyone entering the country must provide a negative COVID test. Temperatures are checked upon arrival and it is possible that you will be retested at the airport.

On resort, guests are only required to wear masks when using the shuttle service. Masks are optional the rest of the time. Staff is wearing masks at all times. Rooms are cleaned based on an 18 Touchpoint system. Rooms are cleaned and then sealed from the outside. The common areas throughout the resort are constantly being cleaned. Hand Sanitizer is also required when entering a dining or shopping are. Sandals has over 20 All Inclusive Resorts throughout the Caribbean. At each resort, there are numerous room categories. Being able to experience these resorts first hand is so important for me as your travel partner.

As a travel agent, I am familiar with each category and notice details you may not, such as which rooms have very high beds, whether there is a deep tub to step into or a Walk In Shower (or BOTH!), which rooms are closest to dining and which are right on the beach. So much goes in to choosing the best room for your wants and needs. I also have built personal relationships with the General Managers and Hotel Managers. They encourage us to contact them prior to our clients visiting so that they can take extra good care of them. Additionally, if an issue should arise, I know exactly who to call to get it taken care of ASAP!

If you are engaged, and dreaming of a destination wedding, Sandals is the place for you! Couples receive a free wedding ceremony with a 3 Night Stay. A wedding specialist is assigned to you and they help you create the wedding of your dreams!

Sandals Resorts are All Inclusive.

That means you do not pay extra for any of the inclusions below:

Meals
Drinks, including Top Shelf Alcohol
Entertainment
Water Sports
Round Trip Airport Transfers
Gratuities

If you are interested in planning a romantic escape, honeymoon, vow renewal or destination wedding at one of Sandals stunning Caribbean Resorts, please reach out to Jen or any of our Marvelous Mouse agents! We would love to help you plan an experience you will never forget!

Why Vacationing In A Mask Is The Most Normal Thing You Can Do Right Now!

November 21, 2020 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Marvelous Mouse agent Lindsay Smith gives us a great perspective on traveling during this unusual time!

When travel resumed in June, travel agents everywhere jumped in the first available plane, train or
automobile that would take them to their favorite vacation destinations. When the CDC lifted the No Sail Order last month, Royal Caribbean announced that in just 24 hours, more than 20,000 people had signed up for their mock sailings – many of whom were travel agents.

Travel agents were sure that clients would feel the same about travel resuming and would be thrilled to pack their bags and finally take their long-awaited vacations. However, the growing sentiment is not fear of Coronavirus, but rather, “I don’t want to wear a mask on my vacation. I don’t want to be reminded of this virus during my personal time.”

I get it. I will follow all rules and regulations and wear my mask when required, but it’s not my idea of a good time. However, I wanted to travel. My family wanted to travel. My friends wanted to travel. Even more so – we NEEDED to travel.

According to a report from the CDC on August 14, 2020, symptoms of anxiety disorder and depressive disorder increased considerably during April-June 2020. Our vacations were cancelled. Our family gatherings were cancelled. Our daily way of life was cancelled. We remained indoors to protect ourselves and others. For the foreseeable future, our holiday traditions will most likely be altered because of limits on social gatherings.

A study conducted by Nature Neuroscience in early 2020 tracked 132 people prior to the Coronavirus pandemic. Baseline assessments measured depression and anxiety and geolocation tracking apps tracked their activity, along with text messages asking about their current mood at random times during the study. At the end of the study, participants repeated the same initial depression and anxiety assessment as well as MRI scans. The results were a strong correlation between positive emotions and diverse activity, and participants responded with emotions such as “happy”, “relaxed” and “excited” when the tracker showed the respondent visiting different locations throughout the day.

A quick Google search will return numerous studies with the same outcome. In this alternate universe we are living in, traveling, even in a mask, is one of the most normal things you can do and could be beneficial in elevating your mood and overall outlook. Traveling in a mask doesn’t remind you of your current situation; it helps you escape it – safely.

I will never forget the first trip my family took in June to a beach house in Oak Island, NC. After 3 nights, we began the drive home and my 7 year old started to cry. He didn’t want to go back home. He didn’t want to go back to an environment where he stared at the same walls every day and was reminded of everything he was missing. The vacation was the most normal he had felt in months – even while wearing a mask!

We visited Walt Disney World in August with the same result. Face coverings are
required in the parks and all public areas but my children didn’t complain once. Sure, the experience was a little different but the outcome was the same. Smiles. Excitement. Fresh air. Escape.

Thinking of cancelling your next trip because of mask requirements? This is where your travel agent can be a huge asset! Express your concerns. Work with your agent to come up with a travel solution that works best for you! There are many destinations, such as all-inclusive resorts, that do not require a mask while on site because of pre-testing requirements! Still want to travel to Walt Disney World but worried about a mask? Your travel agent can help you plan activities and “mask-breaks” that will make your trip more enjoyable!

I encourage you to take the trip. Travel out of the box you’ve been living in since early 2020. By waiting for mask requirements to be lifted, you may be missing out on exactly what you didn’t know you needed! Take advantage of these opportunities to escape your “new normal” and find the joy in traveling again!

Come Relax on Seven Mile Beach at Sandals Negril

November 12, 2020 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Marvelous Mouse agent Lindsay Smith recently traveled to Sandal Negril! Our agents are staying current on all Covid requirements and protocols! When you are ready to travel reach out and let us put our expertise to work for you!

If you love spending hours on a gorgeous beach during your vacation, put Sandals Negril on your list for your next getaway. Located on Negril’s famous Seven Mile Beach, there aren’t many places on the resort where beach access and views aren’t just a few steps away. Non-motorized water sports are included and you can spend as much time as you’d like snorkeling, kayaking or trying out the AquaTrike! Still want to take a dip in a pool? There are two pools on property that offer swim up bars and plenty of entertainment during the day, such as a DJ, trivia, volleyball and much more!

Many of Sandals Negril’s rooms offer immediate beach access, such as the Honeymoon Beachfront Two Story One Bedroom Butler Villa Suite with Tranquility Soaking Tub. This beautiful room offers spectacular views of the ocean from the bedroom on the top level and a butler that caters to every request! My butler made sure I had beach chairs reserved each morning, a cooler full of my favorite drinks and fun snacks through the day, such as the famous Jamaican beef patties! Swim out rooms are even available for direct pool access – and you can even enjoy a view of the beach from these rooms as well!

There are many dining options on property and most offer open air seating and a gorgeous view of the beach. Barefoot by the Sea was one of my favorite breakfast spots and also offers delicious seafood options in the evening. Another one of my favorites was the Beach Bistro, which offers quick bites throughout the day. Each restaurant has a unique cuisine and there is always a new dish to try, along with fantastic cocktails and frozen beverages!

Sandals Negril is high on my list as one of Jamaica’s best resorts. The resort is perfect for couples that are looking for plenty of on-site amenities but still want a more intimate-sized property where you can relax and recharge!

Navigating the Airport with Ease!

October 26, 2020 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

If you have flown in the last few years, you know probably already know that getting through airport security can be stressful and may even lead to significant delays. Before I became a Travel Agent, I used to work for Homeland Security as a TSA officer, and I have picked up a few tips that will help you navigate security easily and hopefully as quickly as possible.

Get to the airport two hours early.

First one you have probably heard over and over again, but it is essential, especially in larger airports. While most of the time, this will leave you with spare time at the gate, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Many times, an entire checkpoint can be close for various reasons which can cause major delays, having extra time will ensure you make it to your flight on time. Don’t count on the airlines holding the flights even when there are significant issues with security.

Find the checkpoint with the shortest wait times.

If your airport is the hub for a major airline, the checkpoints furthest from that airline will typically have much short wait times. Several airports are actually, now posting wait times near the airline check-in counters. If you are in a larger airport, take a peek at these and see which ones are shorter. But be sure you can get to your gate through that checkpoint first, many airports are set up where you can only access specific gates through certain checkpoints. Some airports are even listing wait times on their websites. Now if those numbers are low, don’t think you can now get to the airport later than the two hours, things happen, and those numbers can drastically change quickly.

Have your IDs and tickets out and ready to go

Once you arrive at TSA, have your IDs and tickets ready. To help expedite, each person should be holding their own paper ticket, even kids. Kids under the age of 18 do not need an ID to get through TSA, but the agent at the podium may ask them their name to verify they are the person on the ticket. If you have digital tickets, make sure they are open on your phone and ready to go. Don’t wait until you step up to the podium to open the app. Also, have a printed back up in just in case. Phones are not always 100% reliable (cell service is out, battery dies, it decides to update at that exact moment, etc.), if you can’t pull up your ticket you will have to get out of line and back up to the airline check-in counter then back through the line.

Take out those toiletries.

To get through the line as quickly as possible, be sure to take out your toiletries, even if they are within the legal limit. The limit is each item can be no larger than 3.4 ounces each, and they must all fit into a quart-sized bag, and only one bag per person (3-1-1 rule). If you have them out, they will not need to search your bag if something looks slightly large or just strange. Plenty of bags are pulled and searched just because the agent on the x-ray couldn’t tell what it was. If they are in a bin, the agent can pick it up to make sure it is good to go.

It’s not just liquids.

The rule above is not just for liquids. It also goes for gels, aerosols, and paste. That includes toothpaste, body scrubs, lotions, and even butter. Yes butter, you would be surprised what people fly with. If it is weird, you are better off taking it out of your bag and putting it in a bin. Things like the five pound Hersey Kiss you got at Hersey Park, or the giant bag of jelly beans, or the human femur (yes it happened), or your dog’s ashes. Even though all of those are ok to fly with, they look very strange on an x-ray. If you take them out of your bag, you will avoid having your bag pulled, swabbed, and searched. Also, just because you bought it at the airport does not mean it can go past security. Be sure to purchase those toiletries and gifts like snow globes after you get past security at the gate. The exception to this is duty-free liquors, but they need to be packed correctly by the shop, and you must have your receipt.

Laptops out

One of the biggest reasons why bags get checked is laptops and other large electronics left in the bag. If you don’t have a bag designed to have the laptop one side, take the laptop out of your bag and place it in a bin by itself. If it is small enough, you can put stuff on the side but not on top or under it. That goes even for jackets or hats. If they can’t get a good view, they may have to re-run the bin slowing down the process and causing you a delay in getting to your gate. Even if you do have a bag where the laptop is by itself, make sure there is nothing else in that section like papers, folders, or other electronics.

Everything out of your pockets

If you are traveling with a child under the age of 13, the entire family can go through the metal detector. Stay together as a family until everything is in the x-ray machine, and then the officer at the metal detector should wave you through one at a time. If you guys split up, they won’t know that you are all in the same family and may send some of you through the AIT (the body scanner). Everyone over the age of 13 still needs to take their shoes off.

If you are not going through the metal detector, you will be going through the AIT (Advanced Imaging Technology). Be sure to take off your shoes, hat, jackets, belts and everything out of your pockets and send it through the x-ray. That means everything. Even tissues will be picked up. Also, if you are wearing ‘bling’ on the back of your jeans, don’t be surprised if the machine picks it up. Might want to save those for non-traveling days or you might end up getting a brief pat down to your backside (or where ever the bling is).

TSA Pre-Check

These tips will help you get through faster and without issue, but the number one way to get through security fast is to sign up for TSA Pre-Check. The cost is around $85 for five years, so about $17 per year. You do need to fill out an application and do a background check, but after you are approved, you can leave your shoes on and everything in your bag. You can even wear your favorite pair of blingy jeans. On average passengers with Pre-check wait 5 minutes or less to get through security.

Thank you to our Marvelous Mouse agent Jennifer Suissa for this great information! When you are ready to plan your next vacation reach out to one of our travel experts!