Oranjestad, Aruba -

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Located in the southern Caribbean, Aruba is a tropical paradise year-round, complete with gorgeous white-sand beaches, cool breezes, and warm, friendly people. Actually a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Oranjestad, Aruba’s capital, is a historic port city with a colorful, Dutch colonial charm. Its harbor village is home to breathtaking natural wonders, designer shopping, glittering casinos, lively nightlife and great golf.

The Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino is perfect for guests of all ages, after a $50 million makeover. The caribbean resort features brand new guest rooms with luxurious bedding and bathrooms, new LCD wide-screen TVs and other high-tech amenities. The Marriott Aruba Resort offers premier facilities including the world-renowned Ruth's Chris Steak House, a relaxing Balinese-style spa, and the 24 hour excitement of the Stellaris Casino.

For an exciting adventure, explore the wild landscape of Aruba on the back of a Yamaha Grizzly 350CC all-terrain vehicle on a guided tour up to the north coast. There you can dive into the natural pools for a snorkel or a swim. Enjoy the ease of round-trip hotel transportation, and take in the sights of Black Stone Beach and the Natural Bridge in this unique experience.

Hulhumale, Maldives -

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Combine recent peace negotiations and incredible new hotels, along with the Maldives being the ultimate destination for seclusion, and it’s destined to be a fantastic destination in 2021. In addition to being a naturally socially distant getaway, the destination is considered relatively safe due to their COVID protocols, and all of the islands’ resorts and accommodations are taking extra health and safety precautions. Of course, its gorgeous beaches and exotic landscape is another major draw to this lovely destination.

Take a full day island-hopping tour from Hulhumale to visit two local islands by boat. Listen to commentary from your guide on the islands' culture and traditions, while experiencing them firsthand on your visits. See traditional villagers going about their daily life, visit a boat-building yard, and have lunch at a local restaurant. In between islands, make some stops for snorkeling and swimming to explore the underwater world. Undertaking this multi-island tour may be daunting on your own, but sit back and let the tour arrange all the details in advance. Your guide will teach you about island life and the local ecosystem, and you can feel satisfied knowing you have made the most of your visit to the Maldives.

Los Cabos, Mexico-

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Mexico was one of the first countries to reopen its borders to American travelers, and its famous beaches, food, and people keep it a popular destination for travelers. Located at the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, Los Cabos is actually two towns. San Jose del Cabo, a 200-year-old town, provides visitors with a look at traditional Old Mexico, and Cabo San Lucas is modern and bustles with activity day and night. The two towns are connected by a resort area known as The Corridor, where some of the Baja's most beautiful beaches are located.

Cabo San Lucas is known for its beaches, water-based activities and nightlife. Playa El Médano is Cabo’s main beach, with outdoor restaurants and numerous bars. Past the marina is Land's End promontory, site of Playa del Amor (Lover's Beach) and El Arco, a natural archway in the sea cliffs.

Also make sure to escape to the extraordinary world of Puerto Los Cabos, just minutes from San Jose del Cabo, where you’ll find striking views of unspoiled beaches, golf courses, a world class marina and art galleries surrounded by the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains.

Sprawled over 22 acres, Chileno Bay Resort & Residences offers a contemporary beachfront resort community nestled along the tip of the California Baja Peninsula. Situated on renowned Chileno Bay, a unique protective cove with pristine beaches and unusually tranquil waters, the resort provides an ideal setting for active exploration and complete rejuvenation. Amenities include a holistic spa, innovative restaurant, beachside taco bar, coffee shop and a Tom Fazio-designed championship golf course with sea views from every hole.

Ride a camel along the beach to discover the spectacular coastal scenery of the Baja peninsula on an incredible tour from Los Cabos. Taste traditional Mexican specialties as you overlook the gentle ocean; explore the fascinating flora and fauna of the area with a knowledgeable guide; and enjoy an exhilarating off-road expedition through dramatic natural beauty. Complete your cultural experience with a tequila tasting, and be glad that you got all you could out of an exciting and luxurious vacation to Mexico.

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic -

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Punta Cana's 20 miles of pearl-white sand beaches merged with sapphire-blue waters creates scenery surpassed by no other. This sparkling gem in the Caribbean not only offers an impeccable ambiance, but also luxurious resorts, fine dining, and a wide variety of activities. Punta Cana features the longest coral reef in the whole island (about 19 miles long). Divers and snorkelers of all experience levels can explore reef caverns and nearby Catalina and Saona Islands. For land lovers, there are challenging golf courses, tennis courts, horseback riding, bicycling, or you can soar high above land and water on a parasailing ride.

Eden Roc at Cap Cana is a five-star Relais & Châteaux resort that provides an intimate Caribbean hideaway with a focus on privacy, wellness, serenity and romance in an ultra-luxury private boutique hotel. Located in the exclusive gated community of Cap Cana, this breathtaking resort is surrounded by a tropical rainforest, pristine beaches, towering cliffs, a bustling marina, and a Jack Nicklaus signature golf course. Eden Roc at Cap Cana is a blend of the French and Italian Rivieras, complete with the charm of the Caribbean. Guests will enjoy pampered services and amenities, including in-room dining, and meal plan options with diverse culinary selections. The resort also features Koko Kids Club, upscale shops and Solaya Spa and fitness facilities. Daily breakfast and luxury, private roundtrip transportation between the airport and your hotel is included and provided by Eden Roc at Cap Cana.

For an excursion outside of the resort, explore the remarkable Altos de Chavon and dig your toes in the sand of Saona Island during a full-day excursion from Punta Cana. Walk through Altos de Chavon, a recreation of a 16th-century Mediterranean village perched above the Chavon River and frequently used as a film set. Travel to Saona island aboard a catamaran to relax on the white sand beach fringed with coconut palm trees. Enjoy a barbecue lunch of typical Dominican fare and an open bar. No matter your interests, this day trip is sure to impress.

Cancun, Mexico -

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A renowned tourist destination surrounded by majestic, blue-green waters and white-sand beaches, today Cancun has become an ideal vacation spot. In Cancun you'll find an abundance of shopping, dazzling nightlife, beautiful weather and international flavor that create an exciting retreat. With all-inclusive hotels and resorts for every taste, from adults-only and family-oriented, to moderate hotels for the value conscious, virtually everyone that visits Cancun can’t wait to go back.

On the tiny island of Isla Mujeres, only a 15-minute ferry ride from Cancun, time passes slowly, attitudes are relaxed and the sun radiates brilliantly. The island is home to colorfully painted buildings, warm hospitality and a charming, tranquil ambiance. Aquatic lovers will relish swimming with the flipper-friendly dolphins at Dolphin Discovery, on the island’s northwest side. The Manchones Reef begins just off the shore and is the dream of scuba divers and snorkelers, where the waters are calm and crystal clear, perfect for beginners as well as advanced divers.

Located on Cancun'’s most secluded stretch of white-sand beach, Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancún - All Inclusive offers 602 all-suite oceanfront accommodations, each with a private terrace facing the Caribbean and lagoon-like pool. The resort's top two floors are dedicated to the Grand Club, which provides lavish services and above-and-beyond amenities, both pool and beachside, as well as a dedicated lounge and a 24-hour concierge service. The sleekly-designed Coral Beach Gem Spa offers innovative treatments inspired by gemstone therapy and a dramatic 10-step Hydrotherapy Ritual. Designed for children ages 3 to 12, Coral KidZ is designed to encourage interaction with other children as well as with parents. Interior spaces offer individually designed zones for various age groups, and feature customized technology and bespoke hand painted artwork.

To leave the luxury and take on the spirit of adventure, take a thrilling ride into the Yucatán jungle on a full-day tour from Cancun. Begin your journey in Tulum, a coastal Maya city with ample ruins to explore and plenty of history to learn. Then hike into the jungle to the Sac Actun and Nohoch Nah Chich cenotes—two vast underground river systems—and snorkel through their caves, marveling at stalagmites and stalagmites. Travel in a 4x4 Unimog to your next set of adventures: rappelling into a sinkhole and ziplining through the rainforest, and then top it all off with a traditional Maya lunch.

Guanacaste, Costa Rica -

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Costa Rica has maintained one of the lowest Covid-19 fatality rates in Latin America and its government has been recognized for its successful management and containment of the virus, so when the country reopens on November 1 2021 to all Americans who meet the requirements, travelers will be able to return feeling a sense of confidence. Those looking to travel sustainably will also be pleased to see Costa Rica’s progress: This long-time global leader in conservation and sustainability that runs on 99.5% clean and renewable energy plans to achieve complete decarbonization by 2050. And besides its adventure offerings (canopy ziplining, surfing, whale watching), the country is enhancing its luxury offerings.

In the northwest area of Costa Rica, known as the Guanacaste region, there are numerous activities along the beach, in the charming towns and in the nearby rain forests. You can combine your visit to the Guanacaste region with a stay in either the cosmopolitan city of San Jose or surrounded by the natural beauty of the Arenal Volcano/Monteverde area — or you can combine all three areas for a great Costa Rican adventure.

Surrounded by lush tropical forest, along the Papagayo Bay in Guanacaste, El Mangroove, Autograph Collection is a bohemian-chic, beachfront hotel that boasts the perfect mix of wood and water elements. The all-suite hotel features a spa, gym, and a fashionable pool area, flanked by five private cabanas. Start your day with coffee on your private terrace, relax with a spa treatment before lunch or enjoy the sunset with a yoga session. The sustainable hotel provides two dining experiences with select farm-to-table and ocean-to-table dishes, delivered in simple, scrumptious style. The options for adventure are endless with snorkeling, sport fishing, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. El Coco, a lively beach town with restaurants, bars and souvenir shops, is just 15 minutes away.

Get an up-close look at Costa Rica's hidden natural wonders with a Rio Celeste and Llanos de Cortes waterfall tour from Tamarindo. Follow an expert local guide through breathtaking scenery, rugged trails, and truly beautiful attractions. This is the perfect way to explore outside the city and see what makes Costa Rica a top attraction for nature lovers. You will even get a chance to check out a sloth sanctuary! This tour would be a great way to round out your relaxing and invigorating vacation.

To book any of these destinations, hotels, or excursions, contact us at travelsbydonna@knology.net!

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