Last week, Royal Caribbean opened up their new state-of-the-art cruise terminal in Galveston, Texas. Brentwood Travel marketing associate, Rachel Peters was onboard the first sailing from the terminal on the Allure of the Seas. Keep reading to hear more about the terminal and cruise!

Ben P. and Jennifer M., clients of Travel Consultant Christine Wolff, recently returned home from a trip to Jamaica. They had a wonderful time on their trip and were thankful for how helpful Christine was when they needed to reschedule. Continue reading to hear more about their experience and see some of their photos!

We're in the middle of what feels like a never-ending winter and dreaming of a warm getaway for spring break. Nothing beats a week of sun, fun and well-deserved relaxation! There are so many beautiful places to visit, so it can be hard to narrow it down to one destination. Here is some inspiration for your spring break trip this year!

​This summer I went on a 4 night Jamaica getaway to Secrets Wild Orchid with my friend Libby.
 
Secrets Wild Orchid shares their property with Secrets St. James. Each resort has their own set of rooms and their own main pool areas but they share the restaurants and the entertainment. You have access to both properties! 

​There is also a Preferred Club room section at each resort which offers an additional exclusive pool area and some extra amenities. With Preferred Club room status you also have access to the Breathless resort nearby. 

​I really enjoyed the nightly entertainment at Secrets and the fun activities at the pool. There was always something going on for us to take part in, especially in the evenings. We met a great group of people who we quickly became friends with!! Couldn't complain about the delicious drinks either!

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​This past July, my family and I traveled to one of my favorite places…Negril, Jamaica!  This is the 3rd visit for me (check out my review of Couples Swept Away) and the 15th time for my boyfriend Scott.  The biggest change for this trip was that we brought our three kiddos along for an adventure to this magical island.  During these seven days, our blended family had a chance to come together to form stronger bonds and create amazing memories.  

​​When beginning to plan, we really wanted to find a resort that would cater to a wide range of ages and interests between the five of us.  My 7-year old daughter Grace lives to swim.  Scott’s 16-year son Simon was interested in doing some water sports. Scott’s other son Oliver was going to celebrate turning 10 and wanted a unique experience to mark the occasion.  And Scott and I wanted a place where we could have some time together but knew that the kiddos would be safe.  Luckily we had stayed at the all-inclusive Hotel Riu Palace Tropical Bay in the past and it was the perfect choice for our diverse needs.

​We booked our trip through Apple Vacations which included a charter flight from St. Louis to Montego Bay.  Early on Saturday, July 7th we boarded our plan for a direct flight and landed around 12:30pm.  We also made the very smart choice of selecting Club Mobay.  This is a fast track service and is something we highly recommend whether traveling with your family or just as a couple.  We were greeted by a representative with a warm smile and began out next steps through immigration and customs.  At one point a very important customs form was torn and luckily for us, our representative caught it in advance.  She completed a new one for us before we even  got in line.  If not for her, our form would not have been accepted and it could have caused a great delay.
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Our next step was to board a bus and begin our journey to Negril which is located about 1.5 hours away from the airport.  Along the way, I enjoyed watching Grace get her first taste of the scenery as it passed by our window.  I could tell each time she saw the beautiful blue Caribbean Sea, her eyes would light up.  She was ready to experience all that Jamaica had to offer!

At our resort, we were upgraded to a Junior Suite Oceanfront Connection room.  This gave us the option of two rooms that shared a hall way which was a perfect option for us.  It gave Scott and I a place to ourselves while our kiddos had their own room with a seperate bathroom (a MUST for a beach vacation).  Once we unpacked and got settled in, the ocean was calling our name for an evening of playing in the waves.

​The next few days we were able to check off a lot of To Do items from our list.  For Grace, that included getting her daily fruit punch from the swim up bar which made her feel very VIP!  She also enjoyed all the extra attention she received from the staff, especially an afternoon of making beaded bracelets under the shade of a palm tree.
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Simon enjoyed a morning of snorkling along the reef.  This optional excursion included a ride on a beautiful catamaran and the opporutnity of diving in two different areas.   One spot even had a anchor and cannon from a pirate ship to explore!  And for more adventure on the water Scott, Simon, and Grace took out kayaks which were complimentary at the resort for some sightseeing along the bay.  
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​Oliver got his wish of something truly unique with a glass bottom boat ride.  We were instructed in advance to bring along bread and bananas to feed the fish which quickly became a food frenzy!  He also enjoyed living the life with loungers located directly in the pool.  These were the perfect spot to watch the daily pool activities which included everything from games, to dance competitions, and even an amazing synchronize swimming performance!
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For Scott and I, it was all about being with the kiddos and having time to relax and really enjoy the moments.  Food options were plentiful and easy with the buffets that were available for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  After the kiddos had a full meal and safely in their room, Scott and I took time to enjoy the specialty restaurants located at the resort.  The Italian themed restaurant was cute and served delicious lasagna while the Steak House had a beautiful view and my filet was cooked perfectly!  After dinner, we would usually find ourselves in the martini bar to try some new cocktails or take in one of the evening shows such as the beach party complete with fire dancers.  
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The Hotel Riu Palace Tropical Bay is truly a beautiful property.  The decor is bright and colorful and I love the view out the open air lobby straight towards the ocean.  Beach access is easy and we always found plenty of lounge chairs and tables for our gear. The resort is centrally located along Bloody Bay (named after a particularly fierce pirate battle) and offers amazing vantage points to soak in the views, especially the picturesque sunsets!
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Clients Steve and Patricia D. just returned this past weekend from their Star Clippers cruise and couldn't wait to share amazing pictures with their Travel Consultant Ashley Curry.  Their two-week journey on the Royal Clipper  whisked them away to several picturesque islands including Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, and the Grenadines.  

A voyage on a Star Clippers tall-ship is truly a unique travel experience.  Think of it a as yacht-meets-sailboat cruise that’s guaranteed to provide you with luxury, comfort, adventure and indulgence all on the same trip.  The 'informal elegance' is perfect for any traveler looking to enjoy the best of the Caribbean!  

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​'Stacey  Hoehne was amazing planning our honeymoon! She presented us with a ton of options prior to choosing St Lucia. She delivered information throughout our booking process and even made us a vacation cheat sheet folder. She picked amazing seats for us on our flight to and from St Lucia. I would have not changed a thing about our recent booking with Brentwood Travel!

Thanks so much Stacey for everything!'

​-Chelsea

This past October, my boyfriend Scott and I went on a trip to Negril, Jamaica to experience the pure luxury of Couples Swept Away.  This is my second trip to this magical island and my boyfriend’s 14th time and we were spoiled and pampered at this all-inclusive resort perfectly located on Seven Mile Beach. 
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Traveling with Apple Vacations to Jamaica made our journey easy and relaxing.  We were able to take a non-stop chartered flight from St. Louis to Montego Bay with XTRA airways.  The flight was 3.5 hours and we landed around 12:30pm, right on time to make the most of our first day in Jamaica.  
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​We decided to use Club Mobay which is a fast-track service and is something we highly recommend.  Our meet and greet representative, Wayne, met us right at the entrance to the airport with a warm smile and our names easily visible on a large sign.   He then guided us through the lines of people waiting through immigration, customs, and the baggage claim and straight to a private lounge where we waited for our van. 
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​The lounge also had a kid friendly area for families complete with toys and electronics which I know I would I would have used if we had our kiddos along for the trip.   We had enough time to enjoy a cool drink and some yummy snacks when we were told our van was ready to take us straight to our resort.  

The ride to Negril only took about 45 minutes and we listened to reggea music and watched the beauty of the island unfold before our eyes.  Once we arrived at Couples Swept Away, I knew right away it was a place designed to please the eye and soul.  The colors of the lobby were soft and serene and the sound of palm trees blowing in the breeze was hypnotic.

​We were invited into an open air room with comfy chairs and given glasses of champaign which made us feel very VIP.  A representative of the resort gave us an overview of the property including the location of their six restaurants and how the resort worked on a cashless system.  In other words, we were encouraged to lock up our wallets in the safe provided in our room as they would not be needed during our stay.  

We were then given the key to our garden verandah room and took one of many lush paths to discover our new home for the next week. 

Accommodations
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Our room was very tranquil and featured high ceilings, ceiling fans, and a large covered porch that had an amazing jungle view.  It was just a quick one minute walk to the beach were we were always greeted with the turquois water of the Caribbean.  There were plenty of beach chairs available as well as large rafts that could be brought straight out to the water to float on the waves.  As much as Scott loves being on the beach, the sun is not always very kind back to him and he was relieved to find several shady  areas with straw-covered umbrellas.  

Food

The food at Couples Swept Away was a major highlight during our stay.  We loved the options at the full buffet for breakfast which included omelet stations as well as traditional Jamaican dishes such as fried plantains.  A real treat was Seagrapes Cafe which served vegetarian options and was located beach side.  The sweet potato chips were addictive and we also discovered delicious coco bread which is stuffed with cheese and peppers and served with a ginger chutney sauce. 

For dinner, we tried two of the specialty restaurants: Lemongrass and Patois Patio which served delicious Meditterrian entrees.  Lemongrass was our favorite and required a reservation which was easy to schedule with a quick visit to the front desk.  The food was ala cart and Thai inspired and the flavors and portions were all spot on.  The view was just as equally incredibly as it looked over the pool and was lit with lanterns and tiki torches.    

Activities

Even though we never left the resort, there were plenty of activities for us to try.  Excursion schedules are posted daily and you just need to sign-up one ahead to take part.  Scuba diving has been on my travel to do list and the resort offered a FREE class to get a taste.  We started out getting suited up and had a lesson of essential skills in their pool.  Once we completed that and felt comfortable, we were led to a shallow area near the beach where we saw starfish.  It was a huge thrill!

We also enjoyed a glass bottom boat ride out to the reef.  Our guide was very entertaining and informative on the types of sea life we were able to see including all types of coral, sting rays, and even a sea turtle which can be rare to view.   During the day there was a menu of classes offered throughout the resort including basket weaving, wood carving, jewelry making, and morning yoga.  

We also enjoyed the martini bar which always had a fun crowd watching the bartenders make a variety of mixed drinks.  The martini bar also had a perfect view of the dance floor where different entertainment groups including reggae bands, dancers, and steel drummers would perform nightly. 
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One evening, we enjoyed a bonfire on the beach which included wine tasting and live guitar music.  It was a perfect and romantic way to end a day in paradise.  

The Vibe

I would highly recommend Couples Swept Away as a place for couples to unwind and reconnect.  The people were incredible friendly and we enjoyed making instant friendships with other guests and the staff at the resort.  No matter where you were, you could hear singing and laughter and I felt like it was a place where I belonged and wanted to stay for a long time.