Exploring Ontario’s West Coast: Goderich, Ontario

People tend to want to see all that the wide world has to offer. In doing so, however, they can forget about seeing their own country; the surrounding cities, towns and landscapes that make up their own backyard. I live in Ontario, a huge province in Canada that has many different offerings including massive cities, small towns, rugged tundra, vast forests, the Canadian Shield, watersheds and much, much more. I always like to take a bit of time whenever I can to explore all that Ontario has to offer. Each summer, one of my favourite places to visit with a carload of great friends is Goderich, located on Ontario's west coast.

View of the harbour

Located about three hours from Toronto (four hours if there is traffic, which there always seems to be), Goderich is a quaint little town with a lot of history, a booming salt mining industry and a whole lot of beauty. In fact, it was deemed to be one of Canada’s prettiest towns by Queen Elizabeth II which led to the creation of their motto: Canada’s Prettiest Town.

Upon arrival you are greeted into the community with an octagon town square oozing with small town charm.  The courthouse sits proudly in its centre surrounded by local businesses and shops. We recall it looking similar to the 1950’s version of Hill Valley, the town featured in the Back to the Future movies. If you are a fan of architecture and house design, then Goderich will be worth your drive. Every street has incredibly beautiful homes; some of the more prominent ones still featuring original horse rails and ties in front of the properties. There are also a variety of parkettes that feature stories and monuments hearkening back to the town's former life.

Goderich Lighthouse built in 1847

On our last visit, our home for the weekend was located minutes from one of the town's best attractions, the three beaches. Main Beach, St. Christopher’s Beach and Rotary Cove Beach are all in walking distance of each other, but all offer a slightly different experience. Main beach is the closest to the harbour activity, so it is a great spot to chill and watch massive ships load up with salt, tug boats roaming around the waters; or simply catch the waves crashing in. St. Christopher’s beach is definitely the family spot. Playgrounds, pavilions, BBQ pits and more make this area more suitable for families or larger groups. There are also rock piers to sit on and soak up the views. Rotary Cove is the furthest of the three beaches but offers a quieter beach experience; better for smaller groups or couples.

The almighty beach! Just one of the few reasons to visit Goderich

You can explore the town by foot to get some hidden views of Lake Huron and come across some gems like the Goderich Lighthouse. Built in 1847 this lighthouse is not of a typical build. It is short and squared off, but because it is situated on a bluff it does its job just fine. Located by the lighthouse are steps that lead down the bluff to St. Christopher’s beach. Goderich lore says you can watch the sun set twice here; once down at the beach and again after climbing up the stairs to the top of the bluff. I didn’t get to test this claim out, but would gladly go back and try.

Hard to believe this is Ontario! A view of Lake Huron from a park in Goderich

Beauty aside, what is a place without food and drink? The town has your typical fare of McDonalds, Subway, etc., but we have found a few gems along the way. The Park House restaurant is located at the top of the road leading to the beach. Here you will find a killer patio with great views. They serve normal pub fare menu, but also offer fish from the lake.

John in front of one of the beautiful old style homes you can find in Goderich

Preserving history by converting an old rail station into a restaurant is exactly what the Beach Street Station Restaurant did. While offering up a more high-end menu than the other restaurants, it still manages to stay on a budget friendly price point. It also happens to be a focal point of St. Christopher’s Beach and offers great views of the lake.

Situated in the heart of the town square is a little shop called Cravings. Its name is exactly on par with what they offer, the treats you crave. Be sure to stop by and try out one of their 43 ice cream flavours or some homemade treats.

Goderich is just one of many places along Ontario’s west coast that are worthy of a visit, but with its small town charm; beautiful homes and parks; quiet and friendly atmosphere and top notch beaches, you may just want to make it your first.

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Surviving Road Trips: Music

It's summer time which means long drives to the beach, cottage, camping or maybe even cross country! Either way there is always a common factor when driving anywhere with multiple people and that is trying to please each passengers musical taste(s).

Conventional rules say that the front seat passenger is the one who controls the musical flow, but how fair is that when the passenger is the drivers significant other? So to avoid ruining a beautiful drive and possibly some friendships here are some quick tips to please everyone musically.

1. Find a generic station on the radio

Seems easy enough, just work the radio dial and scope out a station that is playing top hits of decades, genres or whatever your group is mostly into. The major drawbacks of this are that stations come and go as you drive, you will need to find a new station once every few hours as you exit cities, towns and cross borders. Oh, and you will have to listen to non-stop commercials! While not ideal, using the radio is still a valid option for some background music.

Sometimes you gotta go old school and just listen to the radio.

2. Share music time

Everyone has music on their devices, why not come up with a schedule so that everyone gets a turn listening to their own? Dedicate an hour or two to each passenger and pony up the auxiliary cord, Bluetooth signal, USB cable, or if you still have it (which is bad ass if you do) the cassette to 3.5mm adapter. The downside here is that you as a single person will have to listen to up to four other passengers musical preferences. And that can go either way depending on your friend’s taste in music. Again this isn’t ideal, but a better option than the radio.

3. Existing Playlists 

As an avid user of Spotify, I have to say that playlists are life savers when you don’t want to over think what to listen to. Simply pick a loose genre (example 80’s-90’s-00’s hits, Nu-Metal, Pop Punk, Country Hits) and search it up on Spotify. Magically, about 30 playlists pop up that you can now enjoy singing all the hits of. This works with many other genres, bands etc and is a pretty good road trip music solution. However you still have to swap playlists to cater to each passengers tastes. But at least it keeps the obscure tracks that no one has heard away. Downsides are streaming services use data, and we all know data is like gold right now! Tip: Consult with your buds beforehand and download a few Spotify playlists for offline play if you are a premium user. 

4. Creating Playlists

You can take this one step further and actually create your own playlist. You can do this on your computer, phone or through apps like Spotify. If you have extended time before your trip you could email all the other passengers and get them to send you the titles of 30 songs they’d love to hear. Compile them all up into a nice playlist, hit shuffle and enjoy musical freedom. This should cover everyone’s tastes and keep the music balanced (unless your shuffle is as stupid as mine and plays the same band 3 times in a row…c’mon shuffle get it together).

Spotify Logo, great streaming service for music.

5. Battle Royale Solution

Lastly you could of course have an epic road trip battle for dominance of the radio. The winner of whatever challenge you create takes full command of the tunes. Last one to need a bathroom break, rock paper scissors, elimination license plate games or pre-drive feats of strength? A true champion of the road deserves the glory of broadcasting the songs of their people, no? This solution isn't for the faint of heart (or ears) but still pretty awesome... if you win.

Regardless of which musical option you choose for your next road trip, just have fun and make the best of whatever may be playing. Remember that the drive and the music is just a means to get to your end destination!

Drive safe folks!

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The Outer Banks, North Carolina: In Pictures

Last year, my girlfriend, her sisters, brother and I all packed into a Ford Explorer and drove for 15 hours from Toronto, Ontario to The Outer Banks of North Carolina. It was probably the most relaxing vacation I've had in quite a while. Probably because instead of partying I made this trip all about unwinding from the day to day grind.

We would spend all day on the beach reading, cooling off in the water on our tubes or hunt down some of the best sea shells I've ever seen. We'd spend the evening watching sunsets, having some hearty meals and partaking in a few adult beverages by the pool or in the hot tub. We'd cap everything off with a few competitive games on the billiard table and then hit the hay to repeat it all over again the next day. The Outer Banks is a hell of a good escape if you just want to keep things quiet and relaxing.

Here are a select few photos of the hundreds I took on that trip:

The beach has a mix of small grassy dunes and flat spots to set up camp for the day.

I love the way the homes were painted to be bright and give off that beach town feel.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. It's pretty crazy that they actually moved this lighthouse due to land erosion. 

Just one of the many different sunsets we experienced over the sound. The colours change so frequently and so quickly it is best to grab a seat and enjoy the entire process wherever you are.

One of the best reasons to visit The Outer Banks; the beach!

There is very little light pollution once you're off the main land, so all the stars come out to play!

Day or night, this is the spot to catch some fish!

Another sunset over the sound. 

With a proper permit you can drive and camp on certain sections of the beach. This has been added to my bucket list!

Stunning beach homes everywhere!

I spent the majority of my time lounging on the beach, sipping on some cold ones and enjoying my time off work and let me tell you, I cannot wait to head back next year!

If you've ever been, or are lucky enough to live there be sure to let me know in the comments below.

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Real Girls Don't Pay Full Price on Travel

One time, while shopping with my mom, she stated: “It’s not enough that I find something I like, I also have to get a deal.” This is a philosophy she passed on to me holistically. I love shopping; I love travelling; I love eating out; but I HATE spending money. Getting a great deal just makes me feel like I've EARNED that thing a little more. Does this sound like you? If so, here some tips on how I've scored some great travel deals: 

• Put in your time: Start your search early. I’m talking about 3-4 months before your planned trip. Experiment with different departure days or weeks to see if you can find a certain sweet spot (I almost always travel on weekdays).
• Set a goal: Figure out a good price for you based on the recent rates that also fits your budget. When you see rates close to, or under that price you can let loose on booking. You’ll save yourself time trying to guess how low or high the price will go. Stop price checking after you’ve booked, allot that time to daydreaming about your awesome vacation! 
• Know your brands: Keep in mind not all hotels, airlines, car rental companies, etc. are created equal. I’d rather spend more money on a company I know is going to treat me right then get the lowest price on an unknown with sketchy ratings. If you are looking at booking with an unknown, do a little research before you pull the trigger. 
• Start with the deal sites: I have scored many a great rate with Priceline, so they are always my go-to for getting a feel for how much something is going to cost. Techy fun-fact: When using deal sites, tracking pixels are not your friend, so always use the private option on your browser. If a deal site knows you keep coming back and running the same dates, they might not show you their rock-bottom rates. Download a few deal apps as well, sometimes you’ll find mobile-exclusive deals.
• Don’t forget the source: Compare any deal site prices to the rates on the company website, just to make sure a deal is really the best deal.
• Go coupon hunting: A simple Google search will turn up useful coupon codes for a lot of major companies. Also, look to see if the company you want to book with is running any contests as these can come with coupons. Over Christmas, Air Canada was running a game where you revealed flight discounts, I played over and over and finally, on the last day, scored a 20% off promo coupon. 

Still too expensive?

• Location, location, location: It’s the good ol’ rules of supply and demand. Depending on your situation, try looking in nearby bigger and smaller markets. For my most recent trip I was looking at rental car rates way higher than I wanted to pay. So, I switched my hunting ground from directly at the airport to the smaller city where I was staying. The price difference was hundreds of dollars.
• Try talking to a real person. I was about to book that rental car on a deal site, but I had a technical question, so I phoned their reservation line. The representative asked if I had a discount code, and I told him I did not, but I would love it if he had one I could use. He quoted me a lower price than the deal site, PLUS another $20 off just for asking about a discount. This, in my case, is the key to getting good service. ALWAYS be nice to people who are looking after you. Say please and thank you, remember their names. People like to do nice things for people who make them feel good - be a bright spot in their day. 

Get upgraded

• Show up early, be nice, dress well, travel alone: Be on your best behaviour in line. On my trip to Germany I was carefully winding my way through the empty cue. A family skipped the rope line and cut me off at the agent. I didn't call them out or act annoyed, I just stood and waited for my (their) turn in line. They got a two minute head start on me, but I got a free upgrade to business class. 

Look for savings elsewhere

• Sometimes, you can throw your best deal-hunter game at a trip, but you still blow your budget on one of the basics: Hit up your destination’s LivingSocial or Groupon page to see if you can save on local attractions, restaurants or activities. Most major chains throw in a coupon (such as a free appetizer with meal purchase) when you sign up for their e-newsletter.
• Get happy: If you are travelling to the US, see if any of the bars in the area do happy hour. This is usually a period of time before or after (or both!) the dinner rush where you can score cheap drinks and appetizers.  
  

So there you go, happy money savings and happy travels!

Do you have a great money saving travel tip? Share it in the comments!

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Winter Weekend in Ontario's Near North

A post by Scott F

Good things happen when you don’t let small annoyances ruin your day. During an Ontario winter day those “small” annoyances include brutal cold, snow measured in feet instead of inches and air that makes your face hurt...

Because you love it here, that's why.

But if you battle through all that and make your way outside, good things happen. This is what I learned during a recent winter vacay with the family to the outskirts of Huntsville, Ontario. Our intention: jam as many classic Canadian winter activities as possible into a couple days.

Ontario’s natural diversity seems to unfold anytime you cruise up Highway 400 and Highway 11. Wide stretches of fertile farmland blanketed with snow quickly give way to jagged, rocky terrain interspaced with countless lakes and rivers glassed over with ice. We watched as the accumulated snow piled on the road side quickly doubled, and then tripled as we passed Bracebridge, adding to the wildness of the land.

Our first stop was to check out Arrowhead Provincial Park just north of Huntsville. Arrowhead is one of few Ontario Parks that operates at any significant capacity during the winter, offering yurts and cabins for overnight winter adventures. We weren’t staying overnight, but had come to experience the 1.3 km skating trail we had heard so much about. Despite a few weeks of varied weather conditions, the ice was near perfect as we towed my son’s sleigh through the winding trail. The trail is a truly momentous accomplishment; a tribute to the Canadian love of winter. As we huddled around a campfire following our skate it was clear how much people appreciated the park's work maintaining the trail.

Before heading out we spotted Arrowhead’s tubing hill and I simply had to take my one year-old son, Wesley, for his first downhill ride (after a test run by myself, of course). No chairlift here folks, but the walk back up the hill will help you stay warm!

We made our way south east to Cedar Grove Lodge where we would stay for a couple of nights. The resort features 19 cabins backing onto a cliff that overlooks Peninsula Lake. Each cabin is unique and features a wood burning fireplace. We picked the resort for the private cottages, and for the fact that everything is included with your stay, including meals, firewood, recreational activities and more.

The next day, after a fantastic breakfast, we borrowed snowshoes from the resort and trekked to the top of the cliff, no small feat while towing Wesley in his sleigh. From the top we could see across the lake to Hidden Valley Ski Club on the other side. Scooter, our seven year-old fur baby, was thrilled with the chance to crash through the snow. Cheers to Cedar Grove for being pet friendly!

After a two hour hike we were more than ready for lunch. The meals at Cedar Grove are nothing short of spectacular. They offer three or four options at each meal in addition to different appetizers and desserts. The food is pure home comfort food sourced locally whenever possible (including amazing bread from the local Windmill Bakery). Plus, the resort is BYOB, so you can bring your own wine or beer with you to their dining room. I went with a gut warming Blacksmith Smoked Porter from the local Highlander Brew Co. as my drink of choice for our stay.

We spent the afternoon touring the resort, checking out their games room and playing shuffleboard and ping pong. We check off another winter activity when we grabbed some hockey sticks and headed out to the resort’s skating rink on the lake to shoot some pucks around.

After dinner we relaxed by our fireplace and played some board games. The cabins don’t have TVs or WIFI which was an amazing change from our regular plugged-in lifestyle.

Before leaving the next day we asked the resort to pack us a lunch and went out to their toboggan hill to squeeze in one more winter activity.  

All in all it was a near-perfect Canadian winter adventure. So don’t sweat the small stuff, like face biting cold; get out there and experience the unique opportunities winter offers. 

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The 19th Hole: Varadero Golf Club, Cuba

Back in October I was on vacation in Varadero, Cuba (forth time in two years) and on a whim decided to go golfing; and was I ever glad I did. Boasting challenging holes and a beautiful 18^th finish, I had to try out Varadero Golf Club this time around. So off we went early one morning (five of us in total) to the Varadero Golf Club.

Real Man Travels loves to golf!

Today's Fivesome: My friends, Paul, David, Stefano, Mike and myself

The five us on the 18th green

First Impressions:

Pulling up to the golf club, you could see eight foot high chain link fences caging in the maintained palm trees, the rooftops of resorts close by, and of course, an old Spanish colonial clubhouse. As with most things Cuba, the course looked dated. The paths were older concrete and cracked almost everywhere. The clubs to rent were also dated and very hit and miss. But to be honest, it didn’t matter to me, I just shoot for fun. The course looked huge, vibrantly green and well maintained, especially for the hot climate (it was 35 degrees Celcius that day).

One of the holes on the course with a water hazard.

Clubhouse:

This clubhouse was a beauty. Pure old Spanish colonial oozing out of every little detail. Why take the stairs to the rooftop bar when you can take an elevator with iron grates and buttons. It was a bit dicey, but it worked. The rental shop was a closet with shelving and really stood out as an eye sore amongst the beauty of the rest of the clubhouse. The restaurant sits about 40 feet above the beach and looks out to the clear blue ocean, a perfect setting for lunch or dinner.

Panoramic view of 9th hole

Course:

It could’ve been the rental clubs, the 35 degree weather, the eight beers or that that this was actually a hard course to play. Either way, I had an awful showing shooting a 108. I normally shoot in the low to mid 90’s. The course was actually quite challenging. The par fives play very long and some holes require you to be able to drive 225+ yards just to clear the first water hazard. Definitely not beginner friendly. While the course is quite challenging, the views on the 9^th and 18^th holes are to die for. I have never golfed ocean side and now I wish I could all the time! It was absolutely stunning to be on the green looking out at nothing but rich blue water for miles.

18th Hole

Food and Beverage:

I didn't try any food, but definitely had my fair share of beer. Typical offerings of beer here are the Cuban brands Cristal and Bucanero as well as some imports like Corona and Heineken. They also have many liquor and mixed beverage offerings. Lastly, the rooftop bar has a wide variety of cigars for your purchasing pleasure.

View looking down the beach from the clubhouse patio.

View looking down at the beach from the clubhouse patio 2

Value:

Your 18 hole green fee, cart and clubs costs 95CUC, which is approximately $95US dollars. This is pretty steep in terms of Cuba, but when on vacation you can’t complain about spending some money for a good time. You will get a solid four hours out of the day, on a beautiful course that will challenge you, regardless of skill level. And you will have amazing photo opportunities on the 9^th and 18^th hole to get framed up or blast on social media.

Panoramic View of the 18th Hole

Final Thoughts:

The golf club allowed us to play as a fivesome which was a huge game changer. It allowed all of us to be together and share a day of laughs and frustration. The weather was unbelievably hot (35 degrees Celcius + humidity), a temperature I am not used to playing golf in and had me completely drained by the 12^th hole. The course was beautiful, challenging, well maintained and the beer cart guys were always quick to find us. The clubhouse was stunning, with all its Spanish details, and the view from the bar and restaurant were breathtaking. The price seemed a bit high for Cuba, but as stated earlier, for an afternoon out with my friends it was worth every penny. Overall, I give this course a 3.75 out of 5.

Have you ever golfed here? What were your thoughts on it? Let me know either on Twitter, Facebook or in the comment section below. Cheers! 

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Real Man Tested: Boto Swimwear

Tis the season to book an all-inclusive vacation (get tips on that from Scott), and the much dreaded chore of finding a bathing suit for that vacation. We here at Real Man Travels understand your struggle and want to make things easier for you. Just three weeks before I ventured off to Varadero, Cuba in October I was contacted by Boto Swimwear, a company based in Montreal to test out their line of swim shorts for the modern man.

They kindly sent me two pairs of swim shorts to use and abuse from the St. Lucia collection in the colors of sky blue and coral red. I put these swim shorts through the Real Man Tested criteria to help you make a purchasing decision for you next vacation.

1. What you get.

Because this is an article for clothing there are no extras or accessories necessary or included.

2. Look and Feel.

The Sky Blue shorts looked much better in person than I anticipated and I quickly knew they would be my go-to pair during my trip. The Coral Red shorts also look great but are softer in colour than the Boto website would lead you to believe.

The shorts, when dry, feel light and have a bit of a swishy sound when you rub them between your fingers, but for some reason that sound is non-existent when walking. That’s a good thing. No one wants swishy swim shorts. To my surprise when the shorts are wet they do not get darker or lighter as most clothing materials do.

The shorts have a white mesh liner on the inside to protect your precious manhood from whatever may be lurking in the waters. The shorts have a zipper, a snap button and a drawstring to keep them firmly attached to your waist. The draw string is on the inside of the shorts to keep it hidden. This was probably my favourite feature as I was the only one on the beach (next to the liberal speedo wearers) without a draw string dangling by my unmentionables. The shorts are fitted with two side pockets and one zippered pocket on the rear.

3. Ease of Use

As long as you can dress yourself these are simple to put on. The hidden draw string will throw you a curve ball though as you try to decide which to do first, the drawstring, the zipper or the snap button. I went the route of zipper, draw string then button.

4.  Advertised vs. Actual

The shorts are advertised to be for the modern man because of their tailored fit, comfort and bold colour choices. And they were just that. These works of art sat snug on my body and were cut just inches above my knee. The colours really popped when I wore them and I never once felt that discomfort that wet shorts can give you. Overall I would say they really hit the mark with their claims for these shorts.

5. Value

These won’t be for the budget conscience who prefer to just grab a pair to beat up from Wal-Mart, as these shorts retail for $69.00 CAD. For the quality and style the price isn’t too bad considering those flashy board shorts from skate and snowboard companies retail for $50-70 CAD.

6. Practicality

You will definitely use these swim shorts on any given trip to a tropical destination or even to the beach. I can also guarantee you'd be one of the few not drowning in your swim short material (like board shorts) or tucking your junk inside your body (like speedos). 

These shorts are meant to be transitional swim shorts where you could wear them in the water or up to the beach bar or even to a restaurant close to the beach. They deliver just that with the side pockets allowing for money or other small purchases when not in the water.With that being said I don’t see these being the first choice for water sports even though they would hold up if you were to water ski, wake board or tube with them.

7. Overall

A solid pair of swim shorts goes a long way on vacation as I personally spend over 50% of the day in them. So I was happy to have a pair that functioned both in and out of water. These shorts are stylish and I got complimented on the sky blue ones (and asked where I got them). They held up well in the ocean, in the pool and in my initial shower test. The hidden drawstring, side pockets and zippered back pocket are all great features that help with the design elements and functionality. And they just look good, plain and simple (even though I do not have a 0% body fat model body). I give the Boto St Lucia line of swimwear a four out of five.

Want to grab a pair for yourself? You can currently order these from the Boto Swimwear website or wait until December when they will be launching in Bikini Village at most locations. Be sure to give them a follow on twitter or facebook if you decide to buy a pair and let them know what you think.

Have a suggestion for a product you would like us to put through the paces? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook or in the comments below!

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6 Things that Make an Exceptional All Inclusive Resort

A post by Scott F

“I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand.

Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand.

Life is good today.”  

- Zac Brown Band, Toes

Well said, Zac Brown Band! 

As Ed stated in a previous post: sometimes you just need to party and relax. For my wife and I, a pair of new parents, working professionals and active volunteers, the statement couldn't have been more true. That's why we picked up a few weeks ago and flew to the Riviera Maya in Mexico to do, well, nothing at all but relax and enjoy.    

While we don’t do the all inclusive thing for every vacation, we do tend to go every couple of years to enjoy a period of relaxation and indulgence. We've come to know what we like in a resort and what we don’t; and yes, we’re a tad on the snobbish side when it comes to this stuff!

Naturally you look for good food, nice surroundings, a well-kept beach and facilities, comfortable rooms, fun activities, name-brand drinks, good entertainment, quality service etc., but the list below features a few special preferences we have that take a resort from great to exceptional, in our eyes. We experienced all these during our most recent stay at the Valentin Imperial Maya, a highly recommended hotel which exemplifies what we look for in an ideal sun holiday.

No reservation à la carte

Dining at diverse restaurants is part of the allure of all inclusive resorts. That said, most resorts require you to make reservations in advance. We've been to resorts that allowed you to reserve three days in advance, and those that require daily reservations. We thoroughly dislike having to take time every day to make our way to the front lobby, stand in line and reserve. At resorts offering no reservation à la carte, such as the Valentin, you just head straight to restaurant. If it’s full, you usually get a beeper to notify you of when there is an open table. This allows you to take a walk, grab a drink or do whatever you like while you wait.

Adequate pool services – chairs and towels

Oh the dreaded towel card. Some resorts require a card to take out a towel which you get back when you return it. Lose your card or towel, and you have to pay for a new one. At one resort we checked out I had a towel taken from a chair while in the pool. Several other guests reported having the same thing happen. I’d rather not stress having this happen and instead search out resorts that offer restriction-free towel exchange. Similarly, finding resorts that have adequate chairs at both the pool and beach is key.

No wrist bands

Resort wrist bands are basically the nicer version of a caste system. “Oh you have a blue wrist band, yeah, sorry you only have access to bottom shelf liquor, certain restaurants and bars, certain areas of the pool/beach...” I don’t mind having certain extravagances available to those who are willing to pay more, but some resorts have restricted so much that it no longer feels truly all inclusive.

Minimal up selling/timeshare pitching

I don’t mind being asked if I’m interested in upgrades or timeshares, but some resorts have come to rely so heavily on the income from these offerings that they inundate guests with pitches. You should, in general, beware of any “30 minute presentations,” “free upgrades” and “free excursions” you are offered, but it’s best to avoid them all together by choosing a resort that keeps them to an absolute minimum.   

No cost perks/extras/bonuses

It’s great to be surprised by something extra. At the Valentin we were continually surprised by little perks. We loved the live music, both daily in the piano bar and the addition of a live cellist one evening. We enjoyed high tea each afternoon complete with quality espresso drinks. Outdoor themed nights which incorporated food and entertainment were a hit with guests. Turn down service with small gifts like gourmet chocolates. Great!

The Mayan-themed night at the Valentin Imperial Maya

What YOU want

Take some time to think about what you would put on a list similar to the one above and search out resorts that meet your needs. Even little things like having canned beer available, drinks served in only non-disposable cups, lots of available of shade, close proximity to the airport (all true of the Valentin, by the way - have we mentioned we love this resort). This is your vacation, so try to mitigate anything that may cause you stress. Take a second to let us know what's on your list in the comments box below.

Many of the items above aren't listed on resort websites. Read reviews on Trip Advisor and use their Question and Answer feature to ask very specific questions and have them answered by the resort and other guests.  

Safe travels!

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