Hi Cathy!
Our stay was AMAZING at Bucuti!!! We truly loved every minute – and – perhaps for the first time ever – my husband was noticeably sad to leave and come home!! We were both wishing we had booked a ten day vacation – and not just seven.
The property is all that everyone says it is and more. I have absolutely no complaints about anything related to the resort (and that’s unusual! – I am very picky – and not shy about point out things that are wrong). We would definitely come back here again – no question. And that’s only the second time we have ever said that in our lives!!! (The other place was Galley Bay in Antigua).
We went to Barefoot – and that was great!! We went on Sunday night – when the cab fare is higher (higher on Sunday for whatever reason) and the cost was $16/each way. Not breaking the bank – but still a little chunk. We decided against going to Flying Fish – as that cab ride was about $35/each way. We had no desire to rent a car on this trip – it was all about relax and do nothing and relax and sleep and relax. So that’s what we did!!!
We took a cab to town one night and ate at a place called Yemanja. Woodfired grill. That was probably my favorite meal of the whole week (and surprisingly, the cheapest!). The food and service were amazing – and we really enjoyed eating there. I would highly recommend.
Senses – the 8 course tasting menu was amazing food – really creative and artistic for sure. Paul and I (on the advice of others we had met) actually split a wine pairing. We both got to taste and enjoy the wine – didn’t get tipsy!. The only problem with the meal was that it lasted four and a half hours!!! Haha – we were typically in bed every night by 10 or 10:30 so this lasted until 11:30pm – way past our bedtime!!!! But seriously, there is too long between courses….they could tighten that experience up to 3 hours and still have it be great.
Our last night we ate at Windows on Aruba. I thought the venue was lovely – the service was great – the food delicious – but my overall opinion was just – it was okay – nothing spectacular. Just a really nice meal.
We walked to the nearby casino one early evening – and won a couple hundred dollars!!! We had a ball playing at the $5 blackjack table and cheering every time we won $5!!! They probably thought we were silly – but we had a super time. That night, we walked back and ate at Pizza Bobs!!! I had sworn I wasn’t going to eat pizza but what the heck (it was really good!).
We did two excursions. One was the catamaran – with drinks and snacks and lunch – and three different stops for snorkeling. It lasted four hours – was the perfect length of time – and really fun. We love to snorkel and we saw some great fish – AND – one sea turtle!!!
The other excursion we really loved – we rented the UTV’s!! We drove on the road out to the National Park – crazy bumpy bumpy. Swam in the natural pool – left and were driving to the abandoned fort when it POURED down rain. Actual thunder and everything – it was crazy!!! My husband was driving and couldn’t even see through all the water. It lasted about 20 minutes – and just made the trip that much more interesting. We then went to some church – and then the lighthouse – before returning to the beginning. For us – it was actually a great way to see the entire island – which we really felt we did. It was just really great.
Leaving Aruba was interesting. I would NEVER leave Aruba on a Saturday again – as we were told it would be a shit show at the airport – and it was. We were able to bypass the first really long line b/c my husband has priority boarding. However, we waited in the next line for almost two hours. My husband could have abandoned me and gone ahead in five minutes (b/c he has global entry – I do not) but he stayed with me. Rest assured my application for Global Entry is already in progress and I will have it before the next trip out of the country. We didn’t realize we would go through customs in Aruba – and I was counting on Charlotte having Mobile Passport (which I have) to get me out of standing in any line. Live and learn. We did get upgraded to First Class on the way down and back – that was super nice.
So all in all, you really hit it out of the park by recommending and arranging this trip for us!!! Lots of other people we met at the bar were staying on the Bucuti side – they thought we were fancy by staying at Tara. Of course – if we went back – I would absolutely stay at Tara again!!! The suite was perfect!! Great sized bathroom and shower – great towels and toilet paper. Loved the coffee in the room (and they didn’t only give you two coffee pods – but gave you lots!). Loved the water bottles (which we used all week). The bed was super comfortable – the air conditioning was plentiful – and NO MUSTY smell!!! We loved the ground floor level to simply walk out- and be on the beach in one minute. We loved the ability to sign up for the chairs on the beach. We loved the hooded towels that fit over the thick pad on the chaise so you never had to worry about sitting on something dirty. We loved the umbrella – and table – and especially the little red flag!!!
Lastly, what I would say about Bucuti is that I am incredibly impressed by the CONSISTENT excellent service. Not once all week was anyone in a bad or grumpy mood – or that didn’t treat us as if our having a good vacation was their highest priority.
LOVED IT!!! Let me know whenever they run specials or you can get a good deal (a year from now) – as I am fairly certain we will go back. If not in 2020, then definitely 2021.
Thanks so much!
Dona
Our stay was AMAZING at Bucuti!!! We truly loved every minute – and – perhaps for the first time ever – my husband was noticeably sad to leave and come home!! We were both wishing we had booked a ten day vacation – and not just seven.
The property is all that everyone says it is and more. I have absolutely no complaints about anything related to the resort (and that’s unusual! – I am very picky – and not shy about point out things that are wrong). We would definitely come back here again – no question. And that’s only the second time we have ever said that in our lives!!! (The other place was Galley Bay in Antigua).
We went to Barefoot – and that was great!! We went on Sunday night – when the cab fare is higher (higher on Sunday for whatever reason) and the cost was $16/each way. Not breaking the bank – but still a little chunk. We decided against going to Flying Fish – as that cab ride was about $35/each way. We had no desire to rent a car on this trip – it was all about relax and do nothing and relax and sleep and relax. So that’s what we did!!!
We took a cab to town one night and ate at a place called Yemanja. Woodfired grill. That was probably my favorite meal of the whole week (and surprisingly, the cheapest!). The food and service were amazing – and we really enjoyed eating there. I would highly recommend.
Senses – the 8 course tasting menu was amazing food – really creative and artistic for sure. Paul and I (on the advice of others we had met) actually split a wine pairing. We both got to taste and enjoy the wine – didn’t get tipsy!. The only problem with the meal was that it lasted four and a half hours!!! Haha – we were typically in bed every night by 10 or 10:30 so this lasted until 11:30pm – way past our bedtime!!!! But seriously, there is too long between courses….they could tighten that experience up to 3 hours and still have it be great.
Our last night we ate at Windows on Aruba. I thought the venue was lovely – the service was great – the food delicious – but my overall opinion was just – it was okay – nothing spectacular. Just a really nice meal.
We walked to the nearby casino one early evening – and won a couple hundred dollars!!! We had a ball playing at the $5 blackjack table and cheering every time we won $5!!! They probably thought we were silly – but we had a super time. That night, we walked back and ate at Pizza Bobs!!! I had sworn I wasn’t going to eat pizza but what the heck (it was really good!).
We did two excursions. One was the catamaran – with drinks and snacks and lunch – and three different stops for snorkeling. It lasted four hours – was the perfect length of time – and really fun. We love to snorkel and we saw some great fish – AND – one sea turtle!!!
The other excursion we really loved – we rented the UTV’s!! We drove on the road out to the National Park – crazy bumpy bumpy. Swam in the natural pool – left and were driving to the abandoned fort when it POURED down rain. Actual thunder and everything – it was crazy!!! My husband was driving and couldn’t even see through all the water. It lasted about 20 minutes – and just made the trip that much more interesting. We then went to some church – and then the lighthouse – before returning to the beginning. For us – it was actually a great way to see the entire island – which we really felt we did. It was just really great.
Leaving Aruba was interesting. I would NEVER leave Aruba on a Saturday again – as we were told it would be a shit show at the airport – and it was. We were able to bypass the first really long line b/c my husband has priority boarding. However, we waited in the next line for almost two hours. My husband could have abandoned me and gone ahead in five minutes (b/c he has global entry – I do not) but he stayed with me. Rest assured my application for Global Entry is already in progress and I will have it before the next trip out of the country. We didn’t realize we would go through customs in Aruba – and I was counting on Charlotte having Mobile Passport (which I have) to get me out of standing in any line. Live and learn. We did get upgraded to First Class on the way down and back – that was super nice.
So all in all, you really hit it out of the park by recommending and arranging this trip for us!!! Lots of other people we met at the bar were staying on the Bucuti side – they thought we were fancy by staying at Tara. Of course – if we went back – I would absolutely stay at Tara again!!! The suite was perfect!! Great sized bathroom and shower – great towels and toilet paper. Loved the coffee in the room (and they didn’t only give you two coffee pods – but gave you lots!). Loved the water bottles (which we used all week). The bed was super comfortable – the air conditioning was plentiful – and NO MUSTY smell!!! We loved the ground floor level to simply walk out- and be on the beach in one minute. We loved the ability to sign up for the chairs on the beach. We loved the hooded towels that fit over the thick pad on the chaise so you never had to worry about sitting on something dirty. We loved the umbrella – and table – and especially the little red flag!!!
Lastly, what I would say about Bucuti is that I am incredibly impressed by the CONSISTENT excellent service. Not once all week was anyone in a bad or grumpy mood – or that didn’t treat us as if our having a good vacation was their highest priority.
LOVED IT!!! Let me know whenever they run specials or you can get a good deal (a year from now) – as I am fairly certain we will go back. If not in 2020, then definitely 2021.
Thanks so much!
Dona
Cathy,
You did such a good job on my trip to Hawaii and all the other islands. I loved every minute of every day. I loved the blue skies and mid 80’s temperatures with no humidity. The tours of each island were so full of beauty in the scenery and lots of history. The tours were more than I expected, the guides were very personable and knowledgeable. We didn’t get to set foot on the Pearl Harbor memorial because the dock was to be repaired. We did get a boat tour around it though as well as walking through the memorials on land.
We toured two different rain forests on two different islands and one had no bugs or mosquitoes while the other the mosquitoes could carry you away. The guide supplied plenty of bug spray. Oh yes one great bit on news..... no snakes on the islands! Only what people had for pets and turned loose, they catch them and put them in their zoos.
The big island was so very different on all the different sides. We did the tour that went around the whole island. We saw farmland, the largest cattle ranch, the ocean, lots of waterfalls, cows, wild pigs, wild chickens, candy shops, sugarcane, pineapple, lots of different fruit orchards, I could go on all day. We did not get to go to Volcano National Park, as it was closed to anyone not living in the area. We could see it from afar, but we did see lots of lava flows from many years ago. We saw the difference in the looks of the lava and how plant matter can live among it. We did see some light ash from the volcano eruption on the road when we were near the park. I never had a problem with breathing. I have asthma and was afraid so I took masks and an inhaler with me and thank God I never had to use it. They had a night tour so you could see the red hot lava flowing but we ran out of days.
One good thing for us was that many people canceled their trips to Hawaii and our trips and guides gave us more information and we got to take several side trips. Canceling was never an option for me. I’ve waited too many years to take this trip and I want to thank you again, Cathy, for all the planning and coordination. I had a great time and so did my daughter. We loved it!
Susan Martin
You did such a good job on my trip to Hawaii and all the other islands. I loved every minute of every day. I loved the blue skies and mid 80’s temperatures with no humidity. The tours of each island were so full of beauty in the scenery and lots of history. The tours were more than I expected, the guides were very personable and knowledgeable. We didn’t get to set foot on the Pearl Harbor memorial because the dock was to be repaired. We did get a boat tour around it though as well as walking through the memorials on land.
We toured two different rain forests on two different islands and one had no bugs or mosquitoes while the other the mosquitoes could carry you away. The guide supplied plenty of bug spray. Oh yes one great bit on news..... no snakes on the islands! Only what people had for pets and turned loose, they catch them and put them in their zoos.
The big island was so very different on all the different sides. We did the tour that went around the whole island. We saw farmland, the largest cattle ranch, the ocean, lots of waterfalls, cows, wild pigs, wild chickens, candy shops, sugarcane, pineapple, lots of different fruit orchards, I could go on all day. We did not get to go to Volcano National Park, as it was closed to anyone not living in the area. We could see it from afar, but we did see lots of lava flows from many years ago. We saw the difference in the looks of the lava and how plant matter can live among it. We did see some light ash from the volcano eruption on the road when we were near the park. I never had a problem with breathing. I have asthma and was afraid so I took masks and an inhaler with me and thank God I never had to use it. They had a night tour so you could see the red hot lava flowing but we ran out of days.
One good thing for us was that many people canceled their trips to Hawaii and our trips and guides gave us more information and we got to take several side trips. Canceling was never an option for me. I’ve waited too many years to take this trip and I want to thank you again, Cathy, for all the planning and coordination. I had a great time and so did my daughter. We loved it!
Susan Martin
Hi Cathy,
We certainly do have feedback…and all of it is amazing! First, the location of each hotel was PERFECT! We walked to almost everything in both countries. Not to mention they were very classy and felt very high end ( something Austin and I aren’t exactly use to, ha!). Second, the transportation services to/from airports was a big help! We took a taxi from the Euro rail once we arrived in London and that costs us almost $40! So we were very thankful you had those other arrangements already in our plans. Lastly, the flights were fantastic. We ended up upgrading at the gate and paid under $500 total to get up to “travelers plus.” They gave us leg pillows, incredibly meals, and made a great bloody mary!
Overall, it was a trip of a lifetime, and we would not thank you enough! The itinerary was so organized, and we found all our go-to information right there. We certainly plan on using you in the future for all our other vacations so you will most likely hear from us soon. Thanks again for everything!
Katelyn & Austin
We certainly do have feedback…and all of it is amazing! First, the location of each hotel was PERFECT! We walked to almost everything in both countries. Not to mention they were very classy and felt very high end ( something Austin and I aren’t exactly use to, ha!). Second, the transportation services to/from airports was a big help! We took a taxi from the Euro rail once we arrived in London and that costs us almost $40! So we were very thankful you had those other arrangements already in our plans. Lastly, the flights were fantastic. We ended up upgrading at the gate and paid under $500 total to get up to “travelers plus.” They gave us leg pillows, incredibly meals, and made a great bloody mary!
Overall, it was a trip of a lifetime, and we would not thank you enough! The itinerary was so organized, and we found all our go-to information right there. We certainly plan on using you in the future for all our other vacations so you will most likely hear from us soon. Thanks again for everything!
Katelyn & Austin
Cathy,
Danyelle and I wanted to extend our sincere appreciation for all your help in coordinating our travel plans for our destination wedding and honeymoon. We would also like to thank you for all your wonderful help in being the middle person in communicating back and forth with our ceremony needs to the wedding department at Beaches Negril. Because of all your help, Danyelle and I were able to enjoy our most special day and not have to be stressed out over any travel arrangements in Jamaica. Anytime we had a question, concern or had to make changes to our travel plans you were there to guide us through and make sure everything went smoothly. We are so very grateful that we choose you as our travel agent and at some points our pre-wedding planner (you may have found your second calling). We look forward to working with you on future vacation bookings and suggestions. Your service was top notch superior and once again we just wanted to extend our appreciation and thanks.
Take Care,
Andy Sharp
Danyelle and I wanted to extend our sincere appreciation for all your help in coordinating our travel plans for our destination wedding and honeymoon. We would also like to thank you for all your wonderful help in being the middle person in communicating back and forth with our ceremony needs to the wedding department at Beaches Negril. Because of all your help, Danyelle and I were able to enjoy our most special day and not have to be stressed out over any travel arrangements in Jamaica. Anytime we had a question, concern or had to make changes to our travel plans you were there to guide us through and make sure everything went smoothly. We are so very grateful that we choose you as our travel agent and at some points our pre-wedding planner (you may have found your second calling). We look forward to working with you on future vacation bookings and suggestions. Your service was top notch superior and once again we just wanted to extend our appreciation and thanks.
Take Care,
Andy Sharp
Re: Valentin Imperial Maya
Cathy,
Great resort we loved it again :) As far as resort I would recommend to everyone. Service is excellent and staff is great and friendly. No issues with flight, or transportation. Cant wait till next year!
Bill
Cathy,
Great resort we loved it again :) As far as resort I would recommend to everyone. Service is excellent and staff is great and friendly. No issues with flight, or transportation. Cant wait till next year!
Bill
Great vaca – a little more rain than usual but with our pale skin, was probably good for us all.
Sandos was a very nice property but we wouldn’t go back and the only reason would be that the premium/adult section was way too far from the beach. It was still beautiful and in my opinion the food was better here than at Iberostar. And the Beach – THE best beach we’ve had on any vaca so if you are reserving something for beach lovers – this is def the place. Tons to do and see as well. Rooms were great and for the first time – we got all of our requests so that was awesome too. Oh, and love the no reservations for dinner as well as no real strict dress codes for the al a cartes.
Thanks a bunch!!
Lynn
Sandos was a very nice property but we wouldn’t go back and the only reason would be that the premium/adult section was way too far from the beach. It was still beautiful and in my opinion the food was better here than at Iberostar. And the Beach – THE best beach we’ve had on any vaca so if you are reserving something for beach lovers – this is def the place. Tons to do and see as well. Rooms were great and for the first time – we got all of our requests so that was awesome too. Oh, and love the no reservations for dinner as well as no real strict dress codes for the al a cartes.
Thanks a bunch!!
Lynn
