Tag Archives: Renew Wedding Vows

In Antigua, the Art of the “Boutique” Caribbean All-Inclusive 

Antigua is one of the 2 major islands that make up the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda. Ringed with coral reefs, the island is known for its many sandy beaches.

The best time to visit Antigua is between mid-December and mid-April when it’s peak season, making it the perfect destination to escape wintery conditions in the US. A good secondary option is to go to Antigua in May or June.

all-inclusive caribbean antigua boutique

This is not the all-inclusive resort you may be thinking of. 

It’s hidden away on the spectacular Turner’s Beach in Antigua, with 29 barefoot-chic rooms, all endlessly private, individual sanctuaries on the sand. 

It’s a boutique, adults-only all-inclusive, where many of the rooms have their own private plunge pool, all with outdoor showers, all of them just a step away from the sand itself. 

But it’s different here, a small all-inclusive where the focus is on the local. 

You might call it a “boutique” all-inclusive, where the focus is on Caribbean personality, about Caribbean design. 

Owner Andrew Michelin says the aim is to “reflect vintage Caribbean living with a modern indulgent twist, encompassing the small wooden cottages with wattle fences dotted around the islands’ countrysides; the flowering vines between cottages for privacy; bathing beneath the stars with our outdoor showers; and living, dining, and relaxing with the sand between your toes directly on the beach.”

And that extends to every facet of the resort: the food is fresh and organic: think breakfast plates like Antiguan black pineapple custard French toast and dinner favorites like escovitch snapper. 

A fantastic inclusion at this resort is the “snack menu,” from 11:00 AM to 4:45 PM, a time during which it can sometimes be challenging to find a meal at many all-inclusive resorts. And it’s not a bag of chips, either: think local fried chips, pizza, fish and chips, tofu burgers, open-face cajun sandwiches, and coconut cookies. 

And it all comes right to your room. 

There is also the Serenity Spa, a boutique wellness center where the soundtrack isn’t piped-in flute music but the revitalizing sound of the waves just outside the door. 

And then there are the delicious rooms, a lovely mix of pool cottages (either on the beach or in the garden), beachfront sunset rooms, or beach house rooms. 

Keyonna also cleverly labels each room as “distance to the beach.” That means as low as 10 seconds from a “sanctuary pool cottage” to just 60 seconds in a garden pool cottage. No matter where you stay on the property, the beach is less than 60 seconds from your room.

all-inclusive caribbean antigua boutique

In other words, there’s nothing between you and your Caribbean beach dreams. 

And that’s the spirit of this boutique all-inclusive, where the island itself is front and center and the emphasis is on an authentic, unfiltered Antiguan experience. 

It’s the way Keyonna has carved out a beloved niche on an island that’s long been home to some of the Caribbean’s top all-inclusive resorts.

“We’ve ensured that everything possible is made locally – the furniture, soft furnishings, placemats, bread baskets, lampshades, and produce – as we seek to build up those communities surrounding us,” Michelin says. With the added benefit that our food and drinks are fresh, nutritious, full-flavored with no preservatives, just like the food from my grandmother’s kitchen in Jamaica.” 

Please contact me of you are interested in booking this fabulous resort!

Call or text me at 770-402-5103

Email me at mary@vacationstoanywhere.com

Travel Planning Mistakes You Don’t Know You’re Making

So you are ready to head out and go on a new adventure…you have contacted me to book your hotel or resort, transportation, and anything else you might want to do or need to make your trip unforgettable, but have you considered a few extra fine details? Below I have listed a few things that you might overlook while traveling.

Not Trying Out Your New Gear

You’ve bought all the gear you need for your trip, and you’ve tried on the new hiking shoes, backpack, and rain jacket. But just trying it on isn’t enough — have you tried it out? Before you can determine whether your gear is truly good, you need to test it in the real world. Find a way to simulate what you’ll be doing on the trip so you can use your new gear before you leave. If you’re planning to spend your vacation walking around a European city, go for a long walk around your city wearing your new shoes to ensure you don’t get blisters. If you’ll be hiking in South America, suit up with your new backpack (plus everything you’re planning to carry) and do a test hike on a local trail. You’ll thank yourself when you arrive at your destination.

Not Learning About the Local Culture

It’s essential to be respectful of local cultures while traveling, but you can’t respect traditions if you don’t know what they are. Do research or talk to someone from the country you’ll be traveling. This can help you figure out how you’ll be expected to behave when you arrive. Is it respectful to cover your knees in the local landmarks? Is coming a few minutes late considered rude? What about tipping? It would help if you asked these questions before you leave, as the answers might affect how you pack.

Not Strategically Packing Your Carry-on

A change of clothes, prescription medicines, and any valuable or valuable-to-you items need to be in your carry-on, not your checked luggage. Airlines are 70% less likely to lose suitcases than they were 10 years ago, but still, you don’t want to be part of the small percentage who suffers. Being caught in a foreign city without medicines you need is a recipe for disaster, so put anything in your carry-on that you might need.

Not Alerting Your Bank You’ll Be Traveling

If you begin using your debit or credit card as soon as you land, your bank might see the charges racking up in a foreign city and freeze your account. To prevent this from happening, let your bank know that you’ll be traveling before you leave. Most banks make it easy to notify them with an online system, and you’ll be able to shop in peace.

Do you want to go to an All-inclusive Resort, Plan a Destination Wedding, Book an Unforgettable Honeymoon, or take that Cruise you have been dreaming of?

I am always here to help you with your next travel adventure. Please contact me via email at mary@vacationstoanywhere.com to chat about the travel experience you have been waiting to take! A quick reminder, I can book you anywhere in the world!

COVID-19 Updates: US to drop COVID testing requirement for International Flyers Sunday, June 12th, 2022

Yes, you are reading this right! Starting Sunday, June 12th, US travelers are no longer required to test for Covid before returning to the US. Several people I have spoken with about international travel have been waiting for this day to come, and it is here! Do you want to go to an All-inclusive Resort, Plan a Destination Wedding, Book an Unforgettable Honeymoon, or take that Cruise you have been dreaming of? Please contact me via email at mary@vacationstoanywhere.com to chat about the travel experience you have been waiting to take! A quick reminder, I can book you anywhere in the world! 🙂

According to the CDC, as of Sunday, June 12, 2022, air passengers entering the U.S. will no longer be required to present documentation of a negative COVID-19 viral test (called a Qualifying Test) to return to the U.S.

Please note that COVID-19 testing requirements vary by country. It is important to stay up-to-date with Covid-19 testing policies that may impact your vacation to destinations outside of the U.S.

For more information regarding COVID-19 testing updates, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Additional Information:

Welcome to Travel Expo – Mary Mills!

Hello! I am excited to launch my official website for my travel career! There are details about me on my About Me page so that I won’t repeat myself here. I have a page devoted to Request a Quote and a Contact Me page. So take a look around, and please don’t hesitate to contact me for all of your travel needs!

So I want to start with what I have been up to lately. Just a few days ago I worked at a bridal show representing Sandals at the Georgia Aquarium! The ballroom was beautiful and we had these gorgeous Beluga Whales to watch, not that I could, it was a super busy event! 🙂

Bridal shows are often hectic, but it was a special treat to attend a show at the aquarium and see the Belugas play in their tank! I met a lot of excited brides ready to plan their dream honeymoon and even a few couples looking to renew their wedding vows, just as my husband and I did in May 2021 at Sandals Ochi!

I will update again soon and I look forward to hearing from you, and thank you so much for your support! 💕