Sonora - Wild Luxury | Travel Blog

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November 1st 2009

Published: November 8th 2009

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danandkels

Big Resort

First impression: wow!

It's been a long time coming, but it's finally time to dust off the travel blog; engage the choke, give the pull-cord a couple tugs, give gas and fire 'er up!

It's good to be unemployed again and looking forward to some amazing travels ahead! But first we thought we would throw down a little Sonora Blog to celebrate the last 6 months of employment in the rugged luxury known as Sonora Resort...(www.sonoraresort.com)

After returning from Africa in January it was a lengthy interview process securing our positions at Sonroa Resort. But after many phone calls, a trip to Richmond and a few emails, Kels and I had secured our rolls as Housekeeping Manager and Assistant Dining Room Manager, respectively. After some initial preparations at the head office in Richmond, we made our way to Sonora Island on May 1st, a 1-hour 15-minute boat ride from Campbell River or 45-minutes by private 12-seat helicopter from Vancouver; we took the boat from the Riv.

After navigating the stong ocean rapids that take you to (or away from) the resort, we saw Sonora Island with it's big rock face "mountain" that acts as the backdrop for the resort. Once docked

Grady ready to fish

Grady White on main dock.

we were blown away at the size and obvious quality of the resort. Luxury isn't gold plated toilet seats out here; it's a beautifully designed resort that has spared no expense in the quality of building materials, furnishings and equipment. From the fleet of Grady White fishing boats and 12-seat Eco-Zodiac tied up on the dock to the beautifully appointed 88 rooms (including the exclusive 12,000 sqft Sea Lion Pointe with it's massive collection of privately commissioned BC native art) the two heli-pads, the wine cellar (my new home) or the mineral pools behind the Spa overlooking the Yuculta rapids; the closest word to describe this place is: WOW. Luxury here doesn't just include the tangibles, as the season reveled, the caliber of the staff and service offered at Sonora puts this wilderness resort far above and beyond any other. Incredible facitities and amenities, amazing staff and a secluded location with endless natural eyecandy; a great place to call home for six months.

Highlights included: glasses of wine on the deck of the beach-house we called our home, pods of orca passing by the resort, only electric carts to get you from A to B, opening bottles of 1970

Spa with a view

Mineral pools overlooking Yuculta rapids.

Haut Brion (and trying them too!), fliping every room in the resort in 9 hours (that's 6 full helicopters of guests), housekeepers in heels parties, hugs, early morning fishing trips with fish in the boat, B.S., floor hockey in the boat house, six-course gourmet tasting menus with wine pairings, kelp-beer-bongs, sea-lions, incredibly friendly guests, Lucky & Shadow (the 2 resident golden retrievers), working 28-days in a row, grizzly bear sightings, helicopter rides, never enough windex, oreo icecream sandwiches, and many new friends.

Now that the season is over and Kels and I reflect on all the many great times on little Sonora Island, we realize how lucky we were to find such a perfect fit for our hospitality standards and current transient lifestyle. Upon our return from this trip, our plan is to return to Sonora and continue to contribute in creating "the best vacations ever" and enjoying all the benefits that come with the island lifestyle on the beautiful BC coast!

Next up: Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Libya(?), Tunisia(?), India...

Until next time...

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