Caribbean Destinations to Visit Now

Puerto Rico beachIf you truly need to get some warmth and Florida just doesn’t float your boat, we have the intel on where to go south to get thawed out from the cold and incessant snowfall this winter. Most of you now know that all travelers, even US citizens, need to provide a negative COVID test within 72 hours prior to boarding your flight home. This new CDC requirement, which began on January 26th, can be an obstacle and a nuisance that you may not want to deal with. Please note that since this rule was announced, many of the major hotel suppliers (Marriott, Hyatt, Melia, Velas, Aman, Belmond, Nayara, Iberostar and many, many more) in the Caribbean region have stepped up to offer their guests pre-travel testing. See the list of hotels participating here. If you are curious about all the rules and requirements for the various Caribbean countries, this article offers up-to-date information and is a daily tool we use to help our members plan their travel.

One warm-weather destination we highly recommend is Puerto Rico. Since Puerto Rico is part of the US, not only don’t you need to bring your passport, but the CDC rule of testing within 72 hours of your arrival back home does not apply. This makes for one less hassle on your warm weather getaway. There’s a lot to love about Puerto Rico from the fantastic lodgings available to their glorious beaches, opportunities for relaxation, adventure and exploration in their El Yunque Rainforest and their Bioluminescent Bay. We know the best food tours, surfing locales, wellness hotels and spots for your romantic rendezvous.

Let ActiveTravels know your available dates and we’ll help you pick a great Caribbean resort.

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5 Wellness Retreats, Vermont’s Woodstock Inn in ActiveTravels December Newsletter

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The Key to Getting a Better Hotel Room

For those of you who missed my story in this Sunday’s Boston Globe, here’s the unabridged version on how to get a better hotel room:
 
After an exhausting 4-hour flight delay, you arrive at your hotel, only to wait on a long line at check in. You can’t help but take out your frustration on the person working the front desk. She smiles, types in your information, says, “Have a nice night” and hands you the key to the worst room in the property. You know, the one that’s next to the noisy ice machine a good quarter-mile from the elevators. 
 
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Kindness and patience are always the best start. The front desk is doing their best to please everyone, so there’s no need to go overboard about that one special occasion that brought you there. The key here is to differentiate yourself from the 300 other people checking in that day. Providing a gratuity right away will go a lot farther than anything else. It’s a nice way to thank the agent for their hard work. It will also make them pause, look up and do everything to find you the best room and upgrade you. 
 
Was there ever a case when someone’s rude behavior resulted in a downgrading of a room? 
Absolutely. Almost daily. If you are demanding and say something terrible to me or my co-workers, then I’ll put you into a room that’s horrible, one that’s loud or has an obstructed view that doesn’t let in any sunlight. And the best part, you’ll never know. 
 
Is it better to book a room via a travel agent or calling the hotel directly than to reserve through websites like Hotels.com or Priceline? 
From a business standpoint, people who book through third-party travel sites are looking for a discount. The likelihood that they’ll return to your hotel is close to nil. So discount reservations are our last priority. Also, those third-party sites often don’t know the property. I once had someone checking into a midtown Manhattan who wanted a beach view. A good travel agent knows to call the hotel 2 to 3 days before you arrive to speak to the front desk or general manager. It’s a business of people serving people. The more you can connect with the hotel, the better your stay. 
 
Is it worthwhile to return to the same hotel in a city to hopefully get the best room?
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Peru, Caribbean Retreats, and Grand Velas in October ActiveTravels Newsletter

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Still Possible to Visit Cuba

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The Hard Work of Social Media Marketing

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