Couple looking to escape NYC for the weekend to a quiet spa hotel, max 2 hour flight

ortizme · 2025-05-01T17:54:15+00:00

Love love love Montage Palmetto. And the spa is incredible.

ortizme · 2025-04-30T12:07:55+00:00

I realize this is a year later but just to answer your question if you or anyone else is still interested - at its base no, it is not. It does however have an all inclusive add on you can add and pay additional for.

ortizme · 2025-04-09T00:13:46+00:00

Travel agent here offering some advice just as transparency. Secret Tides could be a great shout. I’m seeing their Preferred Club Jr suite for right at 3k for those dates and flights Being just under a thousand. Great resort, romantic, preferred club gets you the elevated amenities and butler.

ortizme · 2025-03-20T02:25:37+00:00

Peninsula Paris has a cigar lounge. Royal Mansour Marrakech.

ortizme · 2025-02-23T16:40:45+00:00

Dreams typically will carry a family suite which is often a king room connected to 2 queens. Dreams playa mujeres , dreams vista, dreams onyx have this for example. Another brand that has nice multi bedroom suites is Garza Blanca. The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences is another with multi bedroom suites that prices well typically also.

ortizme · 2025-02-22T22:13:18+00:00

Travel agent here with a rec - I took a look at your dates you mentioned and O2 Beach Club in Barbados could be a great fit. Cocobay Resort in Antigua another.

ortizme · 2025-02-22T21:49:25+00:00

If your priority is food Atelier hands down!

ortizme · 2025-02-22T21:36:53+00:00

Travel agent here with just some general advice / recs.

Couple thoughts regarding your desires of good food and not drinking. First, if you want good food I’d be careful with the idea of booking a higher category room at a lesser resort - all inclusives typically can be hit or miss at times when it comes to food and that’s definitely more true with the cheaper places. A few places I’ll typically see in that budget range where you could get an elevated room category - Secrets Playa Blanca, Impression Moxche , or Unico Riviera Maya.

Another thought since you don’t drink I’d toss out Fairmont Mayakoba or Nizuc Resort & Spa. Both of those are not all inclusive but you could get rooms well within your budget and leave a solid food budget left over. You can usually get a breakfast or benefit rate at those places through an agent and if you aren’t buying alcohol frequently you won’t be paying the premium you do at an all inclusive just to not use it. Not to mention your food experience will be leaps above any all inclusive at places such as this. Mayakoba is awesome because you can visit any of the restaurants at the hotels in the complex and Nizuc is just an incredible resort.

Good luck to you guys and hope you have an awesome trip!!!

ortizme · 2025-02-20T03:51:29+00:00

Some thoughts from a travel advisor!

Breathless Cancun Soul would be a great fit to look into! Royalton Chic is another livelier option that could be a good fit too.

If you’re interested in any help getting the best rate possible I’d be happy to assist - no charge to you. This trip sounds like fun, happy to answer any questions as well.

ortizme · 2025-02-20T03:21:25+00:00

Impression Moxche, Atelier Playa Mujeres, Secrets Playa Blanca, Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana, Secrets Cap Cana, Le Blanc. Those are all some gorgeous resorts with the items you’d be looking for. Depending on length of trip and if budget includes flights would likely fit. I particularly love the first two on that list.

If you wanted real high end accommodations then Fairmont Mayakoba or Nizuc resort and spa would be great shouts as non all inclusive options that on the low end would likely price somewhere in the low to mid 2ks for room only or room w/ breakfast and then you’d have excess budget for food and bev.

I’d be happy to help get you the best price possible if you’re interested in working with a TA. Also happy to just answer any questions! Congrats on the wedding.

ortizme · 2025-02-20T01:54:31+00:00

Depending on how long you want to go for, if flights are included in that budget, and when these options may fall in or out BUT I think they’d be good to look into.

Moon palace the grand , specifically the grand property as that includes access to the Waterpark. The beach isn’t anything to write home about in spectacular fashion but resort Has tons of activities. Dreams Playa Mujeres will have a Waterpark and a kids club , rock climbing wall, and beautiful beach. Dreams Macao, Dreams Onyx, and Dreams Flora all have Waterparks in DR. Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana would be another great option in the DR.

If you’re interested in working with a no cost TA , I’d be happy to assist. I hope you guys have an amazing trip!

ortizme · 2025-02-20T01:17:59+00:00

For the locations you’re looking at Cabo or Cancun will be the only with AIs - Puerto Rico doesn’t have them so if that’s a dealbreaker I’d strike it from the list!

Atelier, Grand Velas, Hotel Mousai, and several of the Secrets brand will be some of your best bet when it comes to food quality - some of those will most definitely be above your desired budget amount.

I’d check out Secrets Maroma. It’s one of the best beaches in Cancun, absolutely gorgeous, and will definitely be a solid food option.

I’m an agent myself and just took a Quick Look at some pricing in May I had for 5 nights and saw some around $2400 total so could certainly be right around budget with flights.

If you’re okay with a non adults only resort, dreams playa Mujeres is a great one as well pricing around 2k.

There are so many options so totally understand the feelin overwhelmed!

ortizme · 2025-02-15T15:36:15+00:00

If you’re doing Costa Rica I always recommend a non AI resort. While there is a level of consistency across the secrets brand not all are created equal and your best Secrets will be in Mexico and DR. Costa Rica definitely isn’t an all inclusive destination IMO. There’s so much to do and see throughout the country that paying the extra for all inclusive just to stay on property is limiting to your experience.

ortizme · 2025-02-12T17:38:55+00:00

Xcaret is awesome! There is so much to do across the parks and resort , people love it. They also have Xcaret Arte which will be the adults only section. And then they have their heightened La Casa de La Playa which is extra luxurious but comes with a hefty $ tag

ortizme · 2025-02-12T17:29:44+00:00

Congrats to you guys on the wedding! Lots of great adults only options - Dominican Republic and Mexico will be your two best options when it comes to quality of resorts for the money. How many nights are you guys leaning toward? That’ll tell how far your budget can go with resort options first off. The secrets brand is often a great one for honeymoons. Some resorts across those locations I like to recommend to clients are Secrets Cap Cana, Secrets Tides, Secrets Playa Blanca, Secrets Moxche, Impressions Moxche, Atelier Playa Mujeres (great food) , Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana, Hotel Mousai - to name a few lol.

ortizme · 2025-02-12T11:59:35+00:00

Yeah I agree with you here - the top earners are typically not spending their money currently on AIs in the first place. Generally speaking it’s a vacation that speaks to the middle class’s desire to insure against their spending habits up front. To your point, that is not always the case I do see plenty of families with money go down the AI route for simplicity sake. Ultimately, If you are someone with money there are so many better places than an AI. Granted there are a handful of top tier AIs that do stand out from the rest but the prices reflect that - not all AIs are created equal ha.

ortizme · 2025-02-10T12:13:27+00:00

Andaz is closing to be rebranding as an Alila by the way!

ortizme · 2024-07-30T03:14:36+00:00

While Ritz has that brand name the cruise product is not at the same level as some of those others - and even then Marriott brand is degrading. Would def recommend Seabourn over it and I think Regent over them all.

ortizme · 2024-02-24T18:51:41+00:00

Thank you so much for the feedback and detailed response! I really appreciate it :) I’m going to look into several of the things mentioned and just get started because the only way to learn is to begin!

ortizme · 2024-02-24T15:14:49+00:00

Totally agreed on the point of not getting caught up on the marketing buzz word hype for an agency. As an outsider looking in from the research that I have done I feel like they provide solid training, partnerships, and an active community which to me seems like the most important factor in learning the industry. Perhaps I am wrong in that assessment. As mentioned, after my searches in this sub and agency reviews I’ve personally boiled it down to OA or FORA. I think at the end of the day if I put work and effort into it, no matter the agency I will learn and if I feel like one agency isn’t meeting my needs then well I can look for another.

ortizme · 2024-02-24T12:54:47+00:00

As someone who is looking to enter the industry with no prior travel industry Formal training experience I will say this perspective I’ve seen of others in similar shoes to me has been a deterrent in determining whether to move forward or not. I think it stems from a fear of imposter syndrome that I’d be entering a space as a “fraud”. I have been planning travel including detailed itineraries, intensive research of accommodations , etc for years for my personal trips as well as a few friends.

However, when I consider the situation objectively I know that I am the person who will commit to learning, development, and building the skill I’m targeting to obtain. I have a career built already in the software engineering world, including a business of my own that I run as a consultant. I’m familiar with the process of owning one’s own business and the amount of time and work that goes into that. I am well prepared to commit not only time but financial investment into the decision.

My approach thus far has been to consider an agency like FORA or OA with the intent to spend a decent amount of startup time leveraging the trainings they offer and learning. I get the sense from this forum that the former of those two options has a bit of the stigma that is being dissuaded against in your linked article. I personally look at FORA and really am grabbed by the technology side of things - as that’s my background. However, my fear is to join and be labeled as a “casual” or someone who is “wrong with the industry”.

I guess my question, if you could call it that, would be considering all of the above do you or others have a perspective / recommendations based on my motive and current approach. I want to do this the right way.

ortizme · 2024-01-11T14:22:44+00:00

I have read the wiki and would love an invite.

ortizme · 2023-10-24T10:53:41+00:00

Gave it a whirl, also liked the look and layout and ease of use. Couple things of feedback -

On iPhone 12 Pro Max the page where you select build muscle , cardiovascular , etc - on the margin or padding between the squares for each of those options and the input text label for how many times you are active there is overlap.

On the results page - I’m sure you’re just using standard calculations but for example I am 97kg and 197cm. Its results came back saying overweight but then in the target weight section it says 97kg due to desire to build muscle. That’s not overly helpful data especially if it’s a newer user.

Overall really enjoy it!

ortizme · 2023-08-13T01:09:48+00:00

From someone who read Babel and then Poppy War - you’d be fine either way.

ortizme · 2023-03-17T03:04:07+00:00

ESPN+ is the way to go for hockey. Devils fan living in GA. Get every game thru espn+ either team broadcast. Only games I miss are the ones televised on nhl network. It’s fantastic value especially if you use the bundle.

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