FIJI, Cabo with the girls, a River cruise with my man and Disney with the kids! Give me a call on some recent adventures I had. I would love to tell you what happened on these adventures and what might interest YOU too! Gayle Zielke 262-542-5955 trvl1st@aol.com
Bette Zarnke update on Cancun adult only property..very reasonable!
The Puerto Vallarta Palace Pacifico by Suzie
This is a top notch hotel..........I took a small group there last spring break. The manager, Stephanie Weffer, is fabulous and a real gem. She was at RIU Jalisco the year before that and I got to know her there. She's moved to the Palace. Your clients will be given the royal treatment and she'll work her magic.SUZIE MICHAELSON
414-828-6302
sunseektr@hotmail.com
I have been to the RIU Palace Pacifico last year as well. We LOVED it!
This one and Aruba’s RIU Palace are the best I’ve seen. I did see RIU Palace in Cabo and have to say that I was not as excited about that one, prefer RIU Santa Fe in Cabo.
Paula A. Weber
First Choice Travel and Cruise
262-424-5796
trip4u@charter.net
PUNTA CANA
Just returned recently from beautiful, tropical Punta Cana! Some of the office gals: Pat, Suzie, Paula and I visited 10 hotels while we were there for our Honeymooners and Destination Wedding clients. There are resorts for everyone there. Adults only, couples, singles and families have lots of options. New tours here too. We have lots of info to share to with our couples! Give us a call and we will share all our SECRETS with YOU!!!
A few hotel reviews today from Gayle and Paula.
I have heard back from my honeymooners at the Excellence Resort in Punta Cana. IT is an excellent Honeymoon resort and destination!! Go take a peek at our Honeymoon page to hear what Sarah has to say.
Wedding group loved the Club Hotel Riu Negril, they said the wedding and resort was fabulous!! That was from the mother of the BRIDE (Jennie Sigl and Mike Kozich wedding)!
Hi Gayle,You might want to pass this along to the others. I spent a day at the RIU Paradise Island in Bahamas. I would not sell it. It is a very old/tired/run down looking RIU. They were going to close for 3 months in Aug. to renovate. Paula A. Weber First Choice Travel and Cruise
KAUAI was absolutely gorgeous! I know why so many movies are filmed there! I have an update for everyone on this awesome island! Glad I was able to revisit one of my favorite destinations! How can an exotic floral destination like Kauai not be one of YOUR Hot spots too!!?? Gayle
Here are a few comments from clients who JUST returned from Cozumel and the Riviera Maya.
These couples stayed at the Wyndham in Cozumel and last year at the same resort but in the adult area and brought some friends along this time.
Hey Gayle: The weather was awesome, and the kids had a blast! The resort photographer took a bunch of beautiful pictures of the kids, in addition to all the pictures we all took.
It was a great deal—not as nice as last year. Last year, we were in the Sabor part, and that was super nice. There was only one reservation restaurant, which was okay with the kids. As I think I might have said last year, the buffet food is average, but adequate. The rooms were pretty dinky, and we all had two double beds as opposed to a king bed. Pete went diving everyday. Good to get away, and NOT come home with the swine flu. Oink Oink.
Sherry
Hello Pat,
Our Honeymoon at the Royal in Playa Del Carmen
Steve and I can not thank you enough for recommending this breathtaking resort. This was the trip of our lives. These pictures do not give justice to the amazing time we had. Everything was beyond perfect. The staff, the food, the activities, the accommodations and the location were all 5 stars!! The funjet representative was very helpful and helped us plan activities to put the icing on top of our wonderful honeymoon. We went on ATV’s, speed boating, parasailing and swimming with the dolphins. We also had a moonlight massage on the resorts beach, which was amazingly romantic. We are planning on returning for an anniversary. Thank you again Pat and I look forward to working with you again in the future!
Thank you,
Ashley and Steve Johnson!
Judi Lapointe has recently retired from full time at FCTC to very part time. Lapointe has been with First Choice for 17 years she is a state certified Alaska Specialist and in charge of the Alaska Dept, an Ireland and Scotland Specialist. Judi will still be working part time with First Choice Travel.
If you ask Judi why she has stayed with First Choice Travel and Cruise so long and why we have so many repeat clients she will tell you passionately. Judi says the difference between our agency and other online or local agencies is our people!
"I think the difference for FCTC is definately the agents. They treat you like Family. Money and Vacations are precious. Trust the experts" says Judi Lapointe ACC travel specialist for 17 years.
Judi is definately an asset for FCTC. So many years experience with us and I will miss working with her!!! We all love her experience and bubbly personality. YEAH she is really happy to retire from full time. Judi has 4 grandchildren and a lot of activities she is involved in so any free time is GREAT for Judi!
Pat Weber and I have recently returned from a trip to Cancun and the Riviera Maya!!! I saw some of the most unique hotels in the Mayan Riviera. The AZUL and EL DORADO Properties are to die for!!! Casitas with private outdoor showers, jacuzzi tubs for two and the most amazing bedrooms around! Then top that off with the Gourmet All-Inclusive restaurants and candlelight dinners just for two! How romantic is that?
There is no place that offers so much to see and do like the Riviera Maya. Everyone was so friendly and accomodating in Mexico. It is so beautiful and hot, hot, hot there. Bring plenty of sunscreen. The ocean was a gorgeous aqua color and it was so nice to finally be able to see the SUN!!!! YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!
Call us for your Anniversary, Honeymoon or Destination Wedding plans today!
Gayle Zielke, Destination Wedding and Honeymoon Specialist
262-542-5955
FROM SUZIE
I just returned from Puerto Vallarta with a small group. In and out of the airport is a breeze, with the reps waiting there to help. We were all over and Bucerius, small shopping town within walking distance along the beach from the hotels. The cabs taken from the resorts to town or wherever are all working with the resorts to ensure safety. It is safe, but as with anywhere you travel to, be wise!
suzie michaelson your favorite travel consultant 414-828-6302
JAMAICA HOTEL REVIEW... on Grand Palladium-Jamaica
Hi Gayle,
I've had several families return from the above hotel this winter. All had very good comments about the exceptional food and cleanliness.
It opened last summer-there are 2 sides, located on a great point in Lucea, Jamaica. Going towards Negril-about 45 minutes from the airport.
I had booked all of my rooms on the Lady Hamilton side, and they all had great rooms, they said.
Some of the rooms on the other side-the Jamaican side were fairly close to the highway.
One couple said the food was better than on a Celebrity cruise!!! They were astonished that the quality was so good!!!
A suggestion would be to get to the evening restaurants when they open-if you don't want to wait. Since they don't take reservations. And, if they tell you to come back-it's very busy. Maybe, that will change sometime.
Just wanted to let you know. And, the price has been very reasonable- great for families.
Cathy Eickhoff
FLYING HIGH TRAVEL
W/1ST CHOICE TRAVEL & CRUISE
PH: 262.938.9913
JAMAICA update
I took another group of young people (18-24yrs) to Riu Montego Bay in Jamaica last week.
It was close to the airport and a great place to take a group, families, any age of clients would like it. There were more mature-aged people than I expected. Not many small kids.
I chose this resort because it was close to airport and a little safer than Negril.
The other assistant manager made dinner reservations (3 specialty) for my group of 12 for me before we got there. It was a nice touch. Nedsky was always asking me how everything was, if there were any constructive ideas I had, and he was always present in the resort. The front desk staff is very good.
Food-good! The buffet was really good, always something special each night.
Italian-part buffet(good)and order your entree. Entrees were good, not great though.
Oriental-all buffet(exceptionally good)
Steak House-buffet(good)order entree. Steak was good here.
Jerk Chicken Hut-amazing!
Clean resort, very roomy accommodations', bartenders were cheery and helpful, the entertainment was fabulous. Steel Drum night, beach party with dancing and fire on the beach, nice sports bar.
Wedding coordinator on site, sorry I didn't get to see her since she was busy with 4 weddings there that week, pretty!
Sports bar had 3 computers for use, they were down for a day but got fixed very soon after that.
Pay for minutes like most places. 2 pool tables, they need to be updated though.
$49/pperson Margharitaville/snorkeling/shopping boat excursion from the beach (Scuba Caribe), which
is part of hotel. SO MUCH FUN...look for Nexie! The snorkeling is at Doctor's Cave reef. Voted #10 most beautiful snorkeling spots in the world. Seriously, it was amazing. Right up there with Fiji! Stopped at Margharitaville for water slides/trampolines and shopping on the Hip Strip. This is s must do if in MoBay.
The FJ and APPLE reps on site were there every day. Both were so helpful.
If anyone needs any more info let me know.
Also went to Sandals Royal Caribbean for the day, which was a 5 min. walk for us. The offshore island is cool. One of the the pics I sent is on that island, with the white decorations that were for a wedding reception. Took the shuttle to Sandals MoBay. Nice also. We ate at both resorts, such good food at both. Went to check out Sandals Carlisle. Not impressed at all. Nice pool area, that's it. Right on the Hip Strip, beach (small and crowded) is across the street. Old resort. Old rooms. According to one of the staff, they have 60% repeat clients because of the customer service.
SUZIE MICHAELSON
414-828-6302
sunseektr@hotmail.com
Gayle,
Had a great time in Ixtapa at the Tesoro. Did not see anything bad to say of in the neighborhood we were in. Went out a few nights later and never saw anything. I think like you say things going on only in the bad areas and up in the mountains. Lydia and Joe went out for a bike ride one day and never came across anything. I think they went 10 miles.
We all loved the area. Hotel was a great value for your buck. The staff was very nice and took care of everyone the same way. The rooms needed some updating but other than that they were good. Food was O.K. Thank you again for another great year of vacation.
The Thomes
Cozumel
Stayed at Wynhdam Cozumel Resort and Spa and celebrated with friends!
Dear Gayle,
We had a wonderful time on our vacation. Loved the non-stop flight and the Apple people meeting us at the airport....even though they x-rayed every suitcase coming off our plane and only had 2 staff people! The hotel lobby was so impressive when we arrived tired, hungry, and thirsty! Unfortunately, we didn't get a "special room", but we made a switch the next day to get a king size bed. We found out that many people had this problem and if you complained you got a nicer room. Manchesters decided to upgrade to an ocean view for an additional $300.
We totally enjoyed the pools, especially the swim up bar. The two restaurants requiring reservations were incredible. The presentation of the food and the service was wonderful!
Steve and I swam with the dolphins and Carlos was able to get Steve in the same session as me for only $99! It was everything I had looked forward to for so long!
We also went on a catamaran for snorkeling, but Steve ended up aspirating water into his lungs, which was a bit scary. The good news was the hotel dr. was wonderful and came within 20 minutes to check him out and give him an antibiotic to prevent pneumonia....all for $100 on our credit card. He said to call back with any other problems for no extra charge during our stay, 24 hours a day! He was wonderful! We didn't have any other problems.
We had the best sunsets!
For future reference, we felt for the money we spent, it was worth it. We checked out the Sabor (adults only) upgrade....definitely not worth the $. They had access to one more restaurant, which served Chinese and was supposed to be good, but most of the people there came over to our pools and restaurants.
Deb M. went to a session at the spa and said it was wonderful and everyday something was discounted! She had a 90 minute massage for $100, but she started with a steam, whirlpool and then the massage was 90 minutes.. That was followed by tea!
As far as future travels, I am convinced to use you as a travel agent again. You are awesome!
We are thankful for the wonderful relaxing time we had together in Mexico. Thanks for all your help.
Steve and Mary
| FOR MORE COMMENTS AND PHOTOS FROM CLIENTS SEE CUSTOMER COMMENTS,MEXICO, DESTINATION WEDDINGS, TAHITI, HONEYMOONS AND ANNIVERSARIES AND HAWAII. |
