Explore our favorite destinations of 2018
with our Year in Review
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Happy New Year! I hope that 2018 was full of adventure and fabulous memories. As I think back to my own 2018 year in review, I can’t possibly pick just one adventure as my favorite. I travel, not only because I love it, but also to help you narrow down your own selections as the world is so vast with so many opportunities. Check out what I was working on this past year.
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JANUARY: BEACHES TURKS AND CAICOS
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Of course, I went to Beaches Turks and Caicos to check out the fabulous resort and gorgeous beach, but that was not my highlight. The highlight of this trip was spending one-on-one time with my daughter. As a family of five, it is hard to give that special attention to individual children. I could not think of a better way to accomplish that than to leave it all behind, with no distractions other than Sesame Street Parades and delicious restaurants.
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I took the family to visit Disney once again. Not only were the princesses and the rides a great time, but we also ventured out to SeaWorld, Gatorland and Cocoa Beach. As the kids took a day to play at the pool, I took off by myself to tour 14 Disney Resorts. That was a full day of first-hand research to help you, the traveler, to decide which resort is best for your family’s needs.
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What better place to tour cruise ships than the ports of Fort Lauderdale and Miami? Disney, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity, Princess, and Carnival all docked their ships at the port just so travel agents can board, check out the rooms, and sample their restaurants. If you think that all cruise ships are alike, they are not! The differences include the amenities, the energy and the luxuries.
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JULY: ST. LUCIA & ANTIGUA
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Waking up in the Caribbean is not a bad way to start the day! Sandals resorts sent me down to see four of their resorts on two islands and learn all about what they have to offer for Destination Weddings. Destination Weddings are such a big deal now and couples love having the memories of sunshine, sand in their toes and ease of wedding planning as their travel agent and resort wedding coordinator work hand-in-hand to take care of all the details.
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As much as I adore Minneapolis with its gigantic Target store and Hell’s Kitchen, I did not go to Minneapolis for Minneapolis. Instead, I met with the most wonderful group of representatives to discuss locations like Greece, Italy, Amsterdam, Ireland, Spain, Scotland, Iceland and river cruises. These connections have proven to be so useful as I continue to book more and more European destinations. Having someone in my back pocket who lives in the areas we are discussing has been invaluable.
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Punta Cana has so much culture and love of their culture that I never wanted to leave. I was surrounded by beauty around every corner, wonderful hospitality and great food. Punta Cana is a country that caters to more European and Canadian travelers than American travelers. This can either excite you or concern you, depending on how adventurous you are as a traveler. You are more likely to have a communication barrier in Punta Cana than some other Caribbean Islands, but you always get what you want and you have a wonderful time!
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DECEMBER: HOTEL XCARTE, MEXICO
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I had to go to Mexico. I just had to. I had to find out if Mexico was as scary as the media is making it out to be. I had to go down because I could not send anyone to an area where I didn’t feel safe going myself.
I felt so safe! Hotel Xcarte is one of the most beautiful resorts I have ever stepped foot on. The people were so wonderful on and off property as I went to visit other resorts and parks. The streets were clean and organized and at no point did I see anything that made me feel uncomfortable. Not only would I go back, I would take my kids with me.
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