Five Star Travel and Food for Less

We have gone to Cayman's pretty much every year since 1995 or so with the exception of a few years right after the hurricane. November of 2011 was our third visit to the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman. This resort has become one of our favorites in all of the Caribbean for both accomodations and food. Our first visit was a deal we got the last minute when we had to cancel the Four Seasons Emerald Bay due to a mosquito illness outbreak of some sort. We stayed on the club level at a resonable price for this resort approximately 5000.00 for the week. However, you really did not need to go out to eat as the club level at the Ritz is five servings a day that pretty much run into each other. Note: The Caymans ... read more

We managed to get tickets via a friend and $240.00 later we were at the Perton Taco Dinner hosted by Bobby Flay. This was held in a warehouse like evnvironment with lots of tables set up by popular resturants and celebrity chefs preparing small taco's or small desserts. Patron drinks were great, we are now hooked. Going from table to table was fun but it got tiring fast as you have to stand most of the time with a drink in your hand and finger food, add a camera and handbag and this stinks. It would be hard to make this dinner but it was very good for appetizers. Seeing the celebrity chefs up close is what it is really all about and you could do that just fine.... read more

Not your typical scuba divers accomodation! Date: November 2007 Accomodation: Ladera First Impression: West Wall is missing in each room, really? Of course it is, that is what lead to our desire to try this high end tree house for the adventurous type. Did I say adventurous type? This resort is beautiful, and if you don't stay here come for drinks at sunset as there is no better place than the hotel bar perched over a cliff facing he Pitons and glorious sea. What is a seemingly quite bar fills to capacity at dusk and you will be sipping cocktails with writers from food and wine magazine, professional photographers, and all sorts of travel tip advisors. The food here is very nice and claims to be the best resturant on the island. It is good, however, ... read more

Tahiti and her Islands Almost everyone I meet has Tahiti and her islands on their bucket list and it is no wonder once you take in the incredible scenary unmatched virtually anywhere in the World. Our visit - July 1999 - Honeymoon Trip First Stop: Moorea Accomodation: Overwater bungalow First Impression: arrived at night very tired and pretty much out of it Second Impression: Woke up and was transformed straight into the set of South Pacific only more beautiful than one thinks they deserve to be experiencing. Our first stop was this terrific island right across from and visible from Tahiti. Be forewarned, Tahiti received the same number of visitors in a year Hawaii welcomes in a day at the time of our visit. Needless to say I had conjured up in my mind this trip ... read more

5th. visit to Hawii - 6th. coming up Spring 2012 Arrived in Maui early May and guess what? Whales! First time ever catching the whales - just a few left visible from Kannapoli Beach over by Lani - WOW!! Stayed at the Hyatt for nine nights because we got an incredible deal from COSTCO - something silly like 3000.00 for with breakfast and resort credit in upgraded room. I prefer a more upscale resort because I spend a lot of time on a beach chair - LOL but really this is important as most resorts don't have good beach chairs. The Hyatt was no exception - chairs just ok but great location and superior deal. We did not spend money on airfare as we cashed in US Air miles for two first class tickets. The planes ... read more