The Sunscape Punta Cana is not just getting a new name but a $25 million dollar new look when it becomes the Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana this year.  Located in the Dominican Republic, this new look resort boasts state of the art amenities and enhancements that will assure the satisfacation of both past and new vacationers.  The Dreams brand is showcasing 500 lush guest rooms with 40 suites, and a 24-hour room service, bars in and outside of the room, and many gourmet dinner options.  The rooms will be equipped with new beds, new furniture, MP3 hook ups, flat screen TVs renovated bathroom and a new look interior design.

The preferred Lounge inside the resort is gone but only to make way for a new more extravagant Lounge and pool area.  In addition to various Jacuzzis and gazebos there will be wireless Internet throughout the hotel for the guests to roam unplugged at all times.  The Palm Beach Punta Cana has also revived and recharged their dinning experience.  There are now four new gourmet resaurants with a menu boasting over 30 invigorating changes.

For even more entertainment the old convention center will be turned into a Desires Nightclub and Music Lounge and Casino and a new Convention Center consisting of over 2,200 square feet will be added.

Excellence Riviera Cancun is where you belong if you have a taste for luxury, romance and relaxation. This adults-only hotel is perfect for honeymooners, special occasion, or just a relaxing getaway for two. Relax in the most luxurious surroundings while taking in the most captivating views of the Caribbean. Designed for the perfect trip, the resort features 440 luxury and spacious all-suites accommodations with a classic Mediterranean style of stucco, tile and marble. An amazing Spa offering outdoor and indoor treatments, a fitness center, three outdoor pool-intergraded Jacuzzis, six meandering pools, and seven a la carte theme restaurants. The Excellence Riviera Cancun was recently recognized with six Trip Advisor 2008 Travelers Choice Awards in addition to being named the top luxury as well as romance resort in the world.

 

Excellence Playa Mujeres is nestled on two miles of powdery white sand beach situated on an untouched 20-mile peninsula. This all inclusive luxury resort surrounds you in a setting of lush Caribbean beauty. This jewel of Cancun offers spacious rooms and suites furnished in elegant contemporary decor and outfitted with the latest amenities. Excellence Playa Mujeres is an adults-only romantic resort which offers a world class spa, a spectacular Greg Norman signature gold course right on the Caribbean, and luxurious rooftop terraces. 

 

Excellence Punta Cana is a romantic getaway for couples that want a different kind of vacation. Located in a forest of seven thousand palm trees on a remote stretch of Punta Canas Caribbean shoreline.  Choose from moonlit horseback rides on the beach, live stage shows, and a casino. With two giant pools including swim-up bars, a world-class spa and fitness center, and seven different restaurants with cuisines from around the world.  Trip Advisor awarded Travelers Choice Award for #1 resort in the Caribbean, best pool, and most romantic in 2008.        

For more than 50 years, Half Moon has set the standard for Caribbean vacations. Half Moon is located on a 400-acre resort and said to be one of the most highly regarded Caribbean getaways due to its old-world charm, luxurious accommodations, warm Jamaican hospitality and stunning setting in Montego Bay’s Rose Hall enclave. The resort offers all kinds of services and activities that will entertain guests of all ages, such as; the new 68,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor spa oasis which has a blend of modern spa techniques with Jamaica’s ancient healing remedies. For a private, yet relaxing, guest can take advantage of an in-room spa treatment in their own studio, or escape to the comfortable spa gardens.

The resort offers elegant guest rooms, suites and extravagant villas, or one of the resort’s five, six and seven bedroom Royal Villas, perfect for families and groups. It’s like taking a little bit of home and adding the personalized service of an exclusive resort. Each villa includes a cook, housekeeper and butler. The guests have access to all resort facilities and each villa has its own private swimming pool where the guests can relax and enjoy.Â

Half Moon also includes 13 tennis and four squash courts, 51 swimming pools, a Dolphin Lagoon, a croquet lawn, a putting green, and jogging and cycling trails, as well as basketball and volleyball courts. Â The property offers golf at the Robert Trent Jones, riding at the world-class equestrian center, gourmet dinning and duty-free shopping.

Half Moon gives children ages 3-12 the opportunity to learn about Jamaica in a safe, fun and exciting environment. Activities include treasure hunts, Jamaican craft-making, cultural dance lessons, puppet shows, snorkeling and all kinds of sports.

The State Department is making travel easier for U.S. citizens since more rigid travel requirements have come into effect with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.  The State Department has begun to produce new passport cards, keep in mind, travelers do not need passports of any kind to travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands.   The new passport cards are an alternative to the traditional passport books.  U.S. citizens do not need a passport when visiting St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas from Puerto Rico and the mainland U.S.

 

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative passed by U.S. Congress requires that travelers, including U.S. citizens who travel via air to and from the Americas, the Caribbean and Bermuda must travel with a passport in order to enter or re-enter the United States.  

 The Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort is a vacation village located on 55 acres of tropical paradise, above the sands of St. Lucia’s Labrelotte Bay.  And their landscaped gardens and brick pathways lay on their private, crescent-shaped bay.

 The Windjammer Landing features a lot of variety within their 210 guest rooms.  Their Villas come fully equipped with a kitchen, television and VCR, some have private plunge pools and sun terraces, and most have beautiful ocean views.  This resort is also very popular with newlyweds, due to their honeymoon accommodations located separately from family areas.

 For land activities you will find both adult and children’s pools, tiled sun terraces for sunbathing, a grocery market, internet café, boutiques, health and beauty spa (featuring waxing, massage, body treatments, and hair and nail care), a gym (which includes a universal workout center, stair master equipment and personal training sessions available per appointment), Caribbean dance lessons, aerobics, two lit tennis courts, and pool volleyball.  On the beach you have paddle boats, sunfish sailing, windsurfing, and kayaking complimentary, and knee-boarding, waterskiing, scuba diving, underwater photography lessons and dive equipment for minimal extra cost.  Their Jacquot Fun club features activities for ages 4 to 12.  and the resort offers baby sitting and nanny service, and frequent shuttle bus service for transport to and from the resort’s facilities, for your convenience.

 And on the premises you will find four restaurants (Papa Dons serving Greek and Italian dishes, the Dragon Flu serving Caribbean fusion cuisine with ocean views, and more) and three lounges (Jammers Beach bar serves snacks, sandwiches and salads all day, and the Internet café is great for sandwiches and ice cream).

 The five-star Occidental El Embajador, located in the capital of the Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo), is a true tropical oasis offering upscale, luxurious service.  They offer 286 modern rooms within a tropical setting.

 All rooms have views of the garden, city and Caribbean Sea, and all come equipped with beautiful interiors, a stocked mini bar, personal safe, air conditioning, central heating, satellite television, internet connection, a large bathroom and more.  If you upgrade to their Royal Club, you will receive personalized VIP service, and  exclusive access to many extras both in your room, and on the two exclusive Royal Club floors. 

 Other amenities on the grounds are: a swimming pool, fitness center, full-service spa, salon, casino, shopping center, business center, convention facilities three meeting halls, and more.  Meals are served daily at their three restaurants (international lunch and dinner at El Jardin del Embajador, casual dining at Los Porches, and gourmet at the Embassy Club), along with drinks at one of their two bars (Bohio, in the hotel’s gardens, and Colonial, located in the hotel lobby).  Also available is a large selection of games, an international library, and more. 

 For those more business-oriented, joining the Royal Club will be to their advantage.  Through the club they will offer convenient amenities, such as secretarial services (including messaging service and sending and receiving faxes), private meeting rooms, personal telephone calls, laundry service, and daily newspaper and periodicals. 

 The Occidental Grand Punta Cana Sits on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, on Bavaro Beach, in Punta Cana.  This five-star, all-inclusive property offers luxury amenities just feet away from the turquoise waters and white sands of Bavaro Beach. 

 

 Within the resort, there are 877 rooms, all casually decorated in upscale, Caribbean style.  And all rooms include scenic views, a private terrace or balcony, cable television, large bathrooms with large tubs, and a stocked mini bar.  Also available is the exclusive Royal Club, where you can get all the luxury services you could hope for.  When staying in a Royal Club room or suite, you are given access to a private restaurant, pool, Jacuzzi and reserved beach area, and are given the added extras of a special concierge, bar service, and more.

 The resort offers nonstop, all-day activity and sports schedules, featuring the likes of rifle and target shooting, ping-pong, tennis, kayaking, horseback riding, windsurfing, aerobics, beach football, snorkeling, volleyball, water polo, scuba clinic at the pool, and more.  And all guests can take advantage of the resort’s three pools, the secluded beach (which comes with lounge and towel service), the Kids Club (where children can take part in special, supervised activities), and the resorts convenience amenities (among which are laundry services, safety deposit boxes, money exchange, babysitting services, motor sports, nearby golf, gift shops, photo shops, salon and spa, and more.

 You will have no need to leave the comfort of the resort, even when dining.  With everything included, from meals to snacks to drinks, you won’t have any worries as you take your choice from one of the resort’s eight restaurants, or eight bars and lounges.  Among their restaurants are: La Giralda (which features an international cuisine buffet), D’Oriental (which serves up savory Asian dishes), the Las Reses Grill Steakhouse (which serves grilled specialties), Via Veneto (which specializes in tasty Italian), La Hacienda (where you’ll find more authentic Mexican dishes), and casual dining at: The La Fontana Pizzeria, the Home Rum snack bar and the Oceanside Beach Club.  Their eight bars include: two Giralda bars, Bar Yun Yun, La Bodega Bar, La Bodeguita Bar, El Lago, Bar Hundido, Bar Las Marisimas and Bar La Fontata.  And there is the Mangu Disco Lounge, which serves as a sports bar until 11:00 pm, and then a disco from then on until dawn.

Located on a private 100-acre peninsula on Mamora Bay on Antigua’s southwestern coast, you will find St. James Club.  This all-inclusive, private resort offers two pristine beaches, activities both on and off land, full-service spa, golf, fine dining, and more.  Within the resort there are 250 rooms, suites and villas which include views of wither the ocean or gardens from the private balconies or patios of all the rooms, and two-bedroom villas, which are located in a separate village.

There is an endless list of activities provided at St. James Club, and Mamora Beach serves as the spot for watersports such as windsurfing, pedal boats, sunfish sailing, kayaking, diving and more.  And the other beach here offers coral outcrops that are ideal for diving and snorkeling.  Diving certification is also available, and deep sea fishing and yacht charters are available to the nearby islands. 

Other activities include: swimming at one of their three pools, six all-weather tennis courts (5 of which are lit for night play), volleyball, croquet, foosball, golf at the championship Cedar Valley Golf Club, and a Kid’s Club, where you children can take part in the fun, complimentary daily activities that are available for children ages 5 to 12, while you relax and take party in the soothing body treatments at the spa.

There are many dining venues to choose from, such as:  the romantic Docksider Restaurant, an open-air bistro located beside Mamora Bay Beach; Piccolo Mondo, which serves a variety of Italian and international cuisine and is a favorite for private functions; the Coco Beach BBQ offers casual dining and snacks on the beach; the Rainbow Garden, which is the resort’s main dining room; and the Garden Patio, where morning coffee and afternoon tea are provided.  There is also dancing and entertainment available at the resort’s club and lounges.

 The Occidental Grand Aruba is the new luxury, all-inclusive resort on the beautiful Palm Beach in Aruba.  They offer some of the finest accommodations on the island in all of their 348 deluxe rooms and suites and 50 Royal Club level rooms and suites.

 All of their rooms feature luxurious aspects such as marble floors, balcony or terrace with views, full bathrooms with shower and bathtub, satellite television, mini bar, air conditioning, in-room safe, telephone with data port, and clock radio.  Within the Royal Club rooms you will find nothing but top luxury.  All Royal Club rooms and suites feature pristine ocean views, hydro-massage bathtubs, CD and DVD players, exceptional room service (such as champagne and strawberries at breakfast and Godiva chocolates at turndown), personal concierge, exclusive check-in at the Royal Club level floor, business center with meeting rooms, internet access, private lounge, restaurant and other boutique VIP services.

 Nearly everything is included in the all-inclusive plan throughout the resort, such as tennis, snorkeling, scuba clinics, kayaking, sailing, and daily activities and amenities (such as chaise lounges, cabanas and towel services) at the pool or beach.  And the parents can take part in such activities without worrying, while their children take part in many activities at the supervised Kids Club.

 Other options available for a small fee, is a nearby 18-hole championship golf course, motorized water sports (such as water-ski, Jet Ski and parasailing), scuba diving trips and equipment rental, horseback riding, and private tennis lessons.  Also on the property is a logo shop, boutique, newspaper stand, car rental, babysitting, fax and telephone service, conference facilities, 24-hour medical service and laundry.

 Occidental Grand Aruba features four bars: Cocktail (featured in the lobby), Sound (located in the lounge and features nightly entertainment, music and shows), Splash (located next to the pool oasis), and Bikini (is perfect for a snack or a toast at sunset, with the best views from the beach).  And six restaurants: Palm (with an international buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner), L’Olio (serving exceptional Italian), El Olivido (serving up festive Mexican cuisine), Zen (where you’ll find a variety of Asian specialties, such as Tepenyaki, Sushi, and Tatame), Beach Club (with a menu featuring progressive Caribbean cookery), and an exclusive restaurant available just for Royal club guests.

Galley Bay in Antigua is located on forty acres of beautiful tropical gardens on the west coast of the island.  Set within lush gardens, the resort is bordered, with a bird sanctuary lagoon on one side and a three-quarter-mile beach on the other.  This resort offers luxurious comfort with total privacy within their secluded paradise.

 After being completely rebuilt in 1995, their 70 rooms are beautifully accommodated and ideal for relaxation.  Here, you can stay in one of their 10 beach-front rooms, 29 deluxe beachfront rooms, 16 beachfront suites, or 14 Gauguin Cottages.  The rooms and suites offer louvered windows, air conditioning, ceiling fans, baths with showers, and design aspects with natural materials such as bamboo, terra cotta and thatch.  Their cottages come equipped with private plunge pools and lie on the edge of the bird sanctuary.  They consist of two adjoining cottages with a bedroom and a bath/dressing room.

 You can relax in their salon and take advantage of their Swedish massages, aromatherapy, and hair and nail care.  Their private pools feature cascading waterfalls, and their air-conditioned fitness center comes with up-to-date equipment.  When it comes to activities, you will have no need to leave the resort.  They offer watersports such as Sunfish and hobie cat sailboats, kayaks, snorkeling off the wreck of the Andes, and PADI diving certification.

 Within the resort you can dine elegantly at one of their two restaurants and bars.  The SeaGrape is a la carte dining that serves both lunch and dinner.  And the Gauguin Restaurant is great for romantic and intimate lunches and dinners.  The European chef serves dishes at both and specializes in Euro-Caribbean cuisine menus that centers around the locally grown produce and freshly caught fish.  The Teepee Bar is a favorite for appetizers at cocktail hour, and you can enjoy a Banana Slide, the resort’s specialty cocktail, at the Lounge bar while you listen to steel drums in the background.

 Antigua is beautiful and easy to explore, with rental cars available for excursions to the island’s sites.  Popular day trips include: Shirley Heights, the island highest point, which provides views of neighboring Montserrat and Guadeloupe; and English Harbour, where bicycle tours of the island are available.  From Galley Bay you can arrange Catamaran trips to Cades Reef or bird island, helicopter tours of Antigua, Yacht charters, and swims with the dolphins in the warm waters of the island.