French Polynesia Winter 2014: Moorea Revisited

MOOREA REVISITED

December 11-14, 2013

JUST took this pic @ the Hilton Moorea

It's hard to believe that this is my 10th visit to French Polynesia since my love affair began January, 2003!!!  

I just adore Moorea!  It's only a 30 minute ferry ride from Tahiti and if you decide to fly, it's a 7 minute flight.  What is special about Moorea are the people, the scenery and it's authenticity.

Actual picture of Poisson Cru at the Hilton Moorea

We returned to the Hilton Moorea.  We were greeted by my friend Norma saying, "Welcome Home".  Anyone that follows me knows what a total hotel snob I am.  The Hilton Moorea is my exception to my rule.  It's not a stretch though.  The property is 5 star - with nicely appointed over the water bungalows as well as garden bungalows.  I love the beach and have to have their Poisson Cru for lunch every day.  The property has had a management change.  Olivier is very much missed but the new GM, Karine has her vision of how she would like the Hilton Moorea to evolve.  I had a wonderful meeting with the Reservation Department team and they suggested that I take a walk around the property and choose my top 5 locations for my clients.  Pretty wonderful opportunity for my clients! 

Te Hono Iti - Shrimp with Tahitian vanilla sauce (from my daughters trip in June 2012)

Here's the buzz with the restaurants.  
Aito's is closed - it's a shame because it was so close to the Hilton Moorea.  
Le Sud also closed.  
Te Hono Iti is closed for a few weeks.  

Snack Coco D'ile, Tuna with Curry Banana Coconut

My new finds are the Moorea Beach Cafe and a visit to Snack Mahana.  

Snack Mahana was actually recommended by my client Allison - thank you, Allison!  What a fun perfect experience in someone's backyard.  This family run restaurant is only open for lunch from 11:30-3:00.  It is CASH ONLY so please remember to bring your French Polynesia Francs - no credit cards here!  One of their specialties is breaded Maui Maui in a vanilla sauce.  Moist and perfect.  Their poisson cru was perfect as well.  Beware of the slow service so be patient.  The servers were sweet and helpful.

Moorea Beach Cafe

We had dinner last night at the Moorea Beach Cafe.  The Moorea Beach Cafe opened 8 months ago and is owned by Bruno Jamais and his lovely Brazilian wife.  Their location is close to Cook's Bay directly on the water.  The Moorea Beach Café has a welcoming fell to it.  Bruno is a large presence and is quite proud of his "baby".  The food and service were very good.  I especially enjoyed the tuna appetizer, lamb shanks with couscous and dried fruit as well as their PERFECT chocolate crème brulee.  You can relax and enjoy your drinks because The Moorea Beach Cafe will pick you up from your hotel.  ENJOY!

Stay tuned for more of my French Polynesia revisit.  After Moorea, we going on the Paul Gauguin and ending at the St. Regis Bora Bora.


The World is Our Playground!

Mari

Two Winter Specials: Pelican Hill & Poetry Inn!!!

TWO GREAT WINTER SPECIALS!!



Two Winter specials in two of my favorite resorts, Pelican Hill and Poetry Inn!!

PELICAN HILL

Winter time at PELICAN HILL

PELICAN HILL in Newport Beach, CA is offering a Stay Longer at Pelican Hill promotion.  If you stay 3 nights, the 4^th night is complementary!  To entice you further, they are also offering a $100 resort credit and a GUARANTEED upgrade at the time of booking!  These amenities are combinable with our Virtuoso amenities of daily breakfast for two and a one time $100 golf or spa credit. 
There are black out dates and the offer is valid through January 31, 2014.

POETRY INN

POETRY INN in Napa, California has two Winter Packages for stays from December 16, 2013-March 31, 2014 with some black out dates.

POETRY INN

Their Wonderful Winter Weekdays package includes a choice of two 65 minute massages or a private chef's tasting menu dinner for two in room with a 2 night weekday stay.  Rates begin at $1,220 based on availability based on stays Monday-Thursday.

The Pure Poetry package is valid for 3 night stays and include lunch and a wine tasting in Cliff Lede Vineyards' private dining room and a 6 bottle wood box of their library selection of 2009 Poetry. Packages begin at $3,500 based on room availability.

Cliff Lede Vineyards

COMPLEMENTARY TOURS ON SELECT 2014 AZAMARA CLUB CRUISES IN EUROPE

You know my promise of only sending true specials.  Well, here is an incredible promotion from Azamara Club Cruises.
Azamara Club Cruises is offering a choice of 3 complementary tours on selected 2014 European sailings.  Yes, COMPLEMENTARY!!!!  This is a savings of roughly $300-600/person for the first two guests in each stateroom.  Additionally, I can add Virtuoso amenities on 27 of the 28 selected sailings. 
Why not grab some friends or extended family and call me!
This is what I emailed my clients today:

J

Are you considering a cruise to Europe in 2014?  If so, here is a special offer that is too good to pass up.  This is a first for Azmara Club Cruises.  You can choose one of three complementary tours offered per port on 28 selected European cruises from April 11-November 6, 2014.  Space is limited and the promotion ends December 15, 2013.st for Azamara Club Cruises - you can choose one of

 

Mari Marks - Protravel Inc. mari.marks@protravelinc.com   818-455-0078/800-785-1944x0078           Local Culture. Local Life. Every Mediterranean Port. Azamara Club Cruises® already gives you a lot of what you want onboard—and starting November 1, 2013, we will give you a lot of what you want onshore too. Book select Azamara 2014 Mediterranean voyages and get one FREE Land Discoveries® shore excursion of your choice at each port on your voyage! With so many unique outings to choose from, we'll really have you thinking outside the ship. Walk down paths you've only imagined, and see top sights and undiscovered gems, up close and personal. Remember to pack your curiosity. You'll need it.   Virtuoso's premiere Voyager Club amenities are combinable with this offer for added savings. There are many cruise itineraries to choose from.  Please call me to discuss which cruises apply to this offer and the complementary tour choices that are available.                                                               Space is limited and the booking window closes December 15, 2013.   More From Ship to Shore. • Complimentary AzAmazing EveningsSM event on every voyage (except Transatlantic) • Select standard spirits, international beers and wines • Gratuities included • Bottled water, soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas • And many more inclusive amenities   Here's a Taste of What's Waiting to be Discovered. Island of Capri Sorrento, Italy The "Island of Dreams". Be captivated by Capri's impressive cliffs and brightly colored villas. Includes a boat ride on turquoise waters and stunning panoramic views. Flamenco at Night Barcelona, Spain A panoramic drive to experience a beautiful display of colorful costumes and intriguing music. More than a dance style, Flamenco is an art form with a fascinating history. Scenic French Riviera Nice, France Explore the breathtaking beauty and stunning coastal views of the famous Esterel cliff road. Travel by the sea, and through fashionable resort towns and lovely villa gardens. Mari - mari.marks@protravelinc.com (818) 455 -0078 or 800-785-1944 x 0078   Azamara Club Cruises is a proud member of the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. family of cruise lines. TERMS & CONDITIONS: "On Shore On Us" offer is available for bookings created between November 1 and December 15, 2013 for select 2014 Mediterranean sailings. Please contact your Travel Professional for the full listing or visit AzamaraClubCruises.com/OnShore-OnUs. Bookings must be made using promotion code ONSHORE ON US to qualify. The available free Land Discoveries (LD) must be selected online at AzamaraClubCruises.com/OnShore-OnUs at least 90 days prior to departure. Once confirmed, changes to your pre-booked free LDs are not permitted. The free LD's have no cash or replacement value, should you cancel or not show up for your tours. The "On Shore On Us" LD promotion is not available for group or charter bookings. Individual reservations may be transferred into groups after stateroom has been deposited. "On Shore On Us" LD offer only applies to guests 1 and 2 in the stateroom and is not combinable with any other offer or promotion. Refer to AzamaraClubCruises.com/OnShore-OnUs for full terms and conditions. The "On Shore On Us" offer is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time. Certain restrictions apply. Azamara Club Cruises® reserves the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions and to change or update fares, fees and surcharges at any time without prior notice. Inclusive Amenities: Included gratuities are for housekeeping, dining and bar staff only, available on all Azamara Club Cruises voyages. Spirits, beers and wines are limited to selected standard brands, and are only available in the bars during regular opening hours, and not through room service AzAmazing EveningsSM events are complimentary, and available on all sailings except Transatlantic voyages. A few select itineraries may not feature ports conducive to such events, in which case the AzAmazing Evenings event will be held onboard. A refund will not be given if you do not attend, or if the event date, port, venue or program changes, or the event must be cancelled or changed for any reason by Azamara Club Cruises. All AzAmazing Evenings dates, ports, venues, and programs are subject to change without notice. Because Azamara Club Cruises incurs costs for each participating guest, we ask that you let us know by no later than 10:00 PM the previous day if you decide not to attend. Confirmed guests who do not cancel by this deadline and do not show up, will be assessed a cancellation fee of $100 per person. Onboard Credits (OBC's) cannot be used to pay for cancellation fees. If you do not pre-book the AzAmazing Evenings event online but decide to participate once onboard, you may sign up until the morning of the event, space permitting. To be sure there is room for you, we encourage you to sign up before boarding. © 2013 Azamara Club Cruises. Ships' Registry: Malta 13035975_10/22/2013

Virtuoso Active and Specialty Travel 2013

HOT NEW VIRTUOSO NEWS

AUGUST, 2013

 

 

(The conference I am at RIGHT now!)

VAST was an exciting event!  38 Virtuoso's Active Specialty Travel vendors made their presentations highlighting their most interesting travel options.


Nomadic Expeditions in Mongolia

 

 

These are a few of my favorites:



Yellowstone National Park

MOST EXOTIC: Nomadic Expeditions – travel in Mongolia on horseback seeing places you have never heard of and enjoying the Mongolian culture of open hospitality.

BEST FOR U.S. EXPERIENCE: - Tauck's Culturious American Safari at Yellowstone and The Tetons.   It's close, adults only and all the tours are included ... no surprises.

BEST AMAZON RIVER EXPERIENCE– It's a tie! EVERYONE knows about Aqua Expedition but Lindblad is launching their Delphin II as a viable option.

BEST FAMILY EXPERIENCE: Backroads has the others beat.  Small groups having wonderful experiences biking and hiking to various places all over the world.   Why do I like them?   They never subcontract out their tours and they have new titanium motorized bikes!

BEST SPORTS TRAVEL: Prime Sport is a Virtuoso member that delivers access to sporting events around the world.   For Virtuoso agents ONLY, they also can access hard to get tickets for sporting events even though you don't purchase the travel package.  Ask me for details.



Triple Creek Lodge in Montana

 

 

BEST LODGE EXPERINCE: The all inclusive Triple Creek Lodge in Montana wins this award because it's just so much fun!   The lodge only hosts a max of 60 guests and those guests get to experience everything a lodge can offer – Western Style.   It's an adult only Relais and Chateaux Property.

BEST CLOUD EXPERIENCE LODGE: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Lodge in Peru.   I've actually stayed here before and promise that it delivers.   I love how experiential it is including docent led walks to learn about all that is best in the Machu Picchu region.

 

The World is Our Playground!

Mari

Mari's Personal Commentary

Mari's Personal Commentary

This is a commentary blog …

I just received a check for $1,975 from Travelex for our missed flight in Sihanoukville, Cambodia.   If you remember, our flight was canceled after the airplane was a no show in Sihanoukville.   The airport in Shanoukville has one gate and is in service 3-4 times per week.  The airport was closing and we needed to drive 3 ½ hours to Phnom Pehn to catch a new flight that connected to the flight that would take us back to Los Angeles.  The $1,975 check was a reimbursement for 2 economy tickets to Shanghai to catch my connection plus the $80 that I spent in roaming charges trying to get us out of this predicament.

I’m frequently asked, “Why should I purchase travel insurance?”  The next thing I hear is, “I’m healthy and really don't need it”.  I get it!  Travel insurance is not inexpensive.  It can cost between 5-10% of your total trip cost.  I used to feel the same as you.   I felt that I was in control of my plans and knew what my family's health situation was.  What I found is that travel insurance protects you against things that you don't ever anticipate.  You don’t know if your sister needs to be hospitalized.  You don't know that your boss has just taken on a new project and insists that you help him or her thus forcing you to delay or cancel your trip.  You don’t know if your luggage will be lost and I didn't know that my flight would be canceled without notice.  Nothing could take the sting out of the experience that I had but knowing that I had the back up of travel insurance helped me not worry about the expense of the plane tickets.

Now, a comment about direct marketing:

We had stayed at many Four Seasons hotels before I became a travel consultant.  They have our preferences and our email address so we receive direct marketing from them periodically.  Today, my husband received a direct marketing piece advertising complementary amenities such as free nights, free resort credits and more if he reserved his next stay directly through Four Season’s website.

Protravel and I offer my clients preferential hotel status for possible upgrades and access to Four Seasons, elite Preferred Partner Program.  As part of the program, amenities INCLUDE daily breakfast for two, a resort credit and more are automatically included as an added value to your reservation at no cost to you!

Here’s a story from one of my clients:

One of my new clients and her in-laws had a wedding in New York last winter.  They wanted to return to the Four Seasons Hotel New York.   There were three families requiring 4 rooms.  One family reserved their room on the internet as a room only and the other two families reserved their stay through me.  The first family received their room but no amenities.  All three families were on the same floor of the Four Seasons Hotel New York. My clients received a daily full American breakfast for two (you know how expensive breakfasts are in NYC), an immediate upgrade at the time of booking so they paid less for their room than their relative and a $100 per room spa credit. They saved over $1,300 by reserving their stay through me!

So, please call me when you are considering a hotel stay anywhere around the world whether it is at a Four Seasons or another hotel group.  Protravel is part of every luxury hotel chain's elite program.  I want YOU to experience being an elite guest in all of your travels and keep in mind, this is at no additional expense to you.

The World is Our Playground!

Mari

Europe Summer 2013: Villa Ida in Sorrento

Villa Ida in Sorrento

Me, Mari @ Villa Ida in Sorrento

Villa Ida Cooking Class Kitchen

I have just returned from an extraordinary experience in Sorrento.  I've been to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast many times.  In fact, the last time we were here was 9 months ago.

 Today, we wanted to experience life in Sorrento rather than do the walking around Sorrento shopping thing that we had done before.   I worked with I.C. Bellagio to help plan this wonderfully perfect day!

"outside" kitchen with our instructors!

Happy Maddy with Chicca!

Hydrangeas & Grape Vines

Hospitality must have been born in Italy.  Our cooking class at Villa Ida was a perfect example of how to make outsiders from various places in the world feel like a part of your family.  Villa Ida is this magical villa away from the city center.  We arrived and were greeted by the chef, Rosalba's niece for our private cooking class and welcomed “home”.  There were 2 of my daughters and their spouses and our 2 year old granddaughter.  I had arranged for a babysitter for Maddy and was so pleasantly surprised with the arrangements.  Chicca

Another secion of the backyard

 (pronoiced Kee-Ka) was the 42 year old babysitter extraordinaire!!  So loving and patient but what made this so perfect was that Villa Ida is a home ... complete with a play area for
the grandchildren of the owners.  Perfect!  Maddy was in heaven and so were her parents.

Jeff (my husband) READY to cook!

After Maddy was settled, we walked down the beautiful pathway with huge hydrangea flowers down the path and grapes hanging over our heads.  We were invited to sit at our table set outdoors under the lemon and orange trees to enjoy a light breakfast of coffee, lemon cake and strawberry water.  The weather was sunny and ranged from 75-82 degrees as they day passed.  

After breakfast, we were invited to meet with Rosalba and her niece, Roberta who helped translate.  Rosalba was a lovely engaging woman who interspersed her insight and cooking tips throughout our class.  EVERYONE learned something!!  It was like cooking along side of your Italian Grandmother.

The table we sat at to eat all the courses of food

We started with learning how to prepare zucchini blossoms by separating the blossoms from the zucchini.  We cut the zucchini into small slices for our lightly fried (only in corn or sunflower oil) zucchini which would be added to our spaghetti.  Next, we moved onto cutting squash which would later be lightly fried.  We added mozzarella to the squash slices and rolled the squash up and put it on a baking dish to heat in the oven.

Homemade meatballs - Villa Ida version

We cut large, fragrant tomatoes for our Pomodoro Salad, and made beef meatballs served in a simply delicious tomato basil sauce.  Finally, we made our amazing dessert, Tiramisu.  This Tiramisu was not the American version.  This Tiramisu consisted of ladyfingers, strawberries and strawberry syrup made with sugar and a little water and a lovely custard sauce.

After we finished “working”, Rosalba's husband, Carlo invited us into his wine cellar to taste his handmade wines.  These were not “fine wines”...these were local table wines meant to enjoy with the local food.  We came away learning more about his family's history and how important Villa Ida was to his mulch-generational family that all worked together in this piece of heaven.

We had started around 9:15 and began enjoying our lunch 3 ½ hours later and what a lunch it was.  All during our class and lunch, Maddy was being lovingly cared for by Chicca.  Believe me when I tell you how perfect today day was!

Jeff (my husband) always finding the animals

After enjoying our simple, perfect meal, Carlo and Rosalba's grandchildren, Andrea and little Rosalba Junior joined Maddy to play together in total harmony.  Children don't need to communicate in words.  They played in the toy house together and in the end gave each other hugs and kisses goodbye.

Homemade pasta with Zucchini

We “graduated” from class and were given certificates, a copy of our recipes and Villa Ida aprons to take home with us.

Meatballs and Mozzarella wrapped in Eggplant

From our hearts, Ciao and Grazia to everyone that made Villa Ida so unique and memorable!

The World is Our Playground!

I GRADUATED Villa Ida Cooking Class!!!!

Mari