A few client reviews....
AMIGO TRAVEL - NOBODY DOES IT BETTER
Several months ago, we moved to the small town of Elmsdale, Nova Scotia, and one of the things that we noticed was a little travel agency located in town that was advertising great prices for trips to the Caribbean. Since my wife and I were planning on travelling south in APR of 2005, I thought I'd stop in for a chat. One of the things that I wanted to know was if they would match online prices or competitor's prices. I chatted with a lady that day whom I later came to know as Crystal and she assured me that if I found something I liked, they would be happy to talk about it. In subsequent trips to Amigo Travel, I met Jessica, who would take the time to chat about different countries and resorts that we'd been to and recommend resorts that we could go to. When I told Jessica that I would probably be in on the following Saturday to book our trip, she referred me to Crystal, who would be working that day.
On Saturday morning I found the deal that I was looking for and as soon as the office opened my wife and I were there to see Crystal. When I told her which resort we had picked, she was extremely excited because she was hoping to go to this particular resort herself because it looked so awesome. The price was agreed upon without hesitation or dickering and ten minutes later we were booked. End of story, right? Not with Amigo Travel. From that point until we left on our trip, Crystal conferred with her contact at the resort to try to get the most for her customers, that being us. Her last email to us was that the resort assured her that they would take very good care of us and indeed they did! We went to the Grand Palladium Palace Resort & Spa in Punta Cana and we were bumped up to the exclusive adults-only Royal Suites section of the resort which had many extra priveledges as well as our own private pool and beach. This would not have happened had it not been for the extra effort put forth by Crystal on our behalf! Most other agents don't make that extra effort for their customers. Not only have they become "My travel agency" I think I can say they have become my "Friends". NOBODY DOES IT BETTER!! A million THANKS to CRYSTAL & JESSICA!
Gary & Donna Peddle
Elmsdale, NS
Grand Palladium Palace Resort & Spa
March 2005
Just returned recently from a one-week stay and in a word it was wonderful. We have been to Sandals in Jamaica, other resorts in Punta Cana, Cuba and Mexico. This resort rates the best one we have vacationed at.
First, we have to extend our thanks and appreciation to Crystal at Amigo Travel. As our travel agent she went above and beyond and her superior service made our vacation unforgettable. The quality customer service is something you cannot get just anywhere.
Our vacation was from March 22-30, 2005. We were celebrating our 30th Wedding Anniversary and wanted this vacation to be extra special. It was that and so much more.
Flights- our vacation was with World of Vacations and the flight was most enjoyable, the seats I have to stay were roomier than most with lots of legroom and the service was great.
Our flight arrived 20 minutes early and we arrived at the hotel at 11:00 p.m. and checked in. This was the fastest check in I ever experienced, it took 10 minutes from start to finish.
Rooms- Our travel agent, Crystal, knowing we wanted this vacation to be extra special requested an upgrade and we were given a "Royal Suite" which is in an exclusive part of the resort for adults only! The room was like something out of magazine. Picture this, white provincial type furniture, gleaming marble floors, pillars separating the bathroom area from the dining area, which had a sofa, table and chairs. The bed was king size canopy bed with white flowing bug net type curtains draping the bed. Our balcony had a wrap around deck with a full Jacuzzi in the corner of it. There was also table and chairs to relax on after a long day at the beach or pool.
From the first day to the last we were treated like royalty. The "Royal Suite" Host Octavio was amazing. He knew who we were right from the start and for any want or need we had he delivered superior customer service. I would recommend if anyone should go there to ask for him. He also spoke the very best English so there were no communication barriers.
This part of the resort gives you some added benefits! Because it is an exclusive part of the resort it had it's own private pool, beach area, which only guests staying in the "Royal Suites", could take advantage of. There was 24 hour VIP service, private swim up bar as well as drink service in the deck chairs and at the beach. You litterly did not have to move off that chair!
The lounge for the "Royal Suites" had reception service, comfortable chairs and loungers with air conditioning, snacks, premium drinks and free access to the Internet anytime you wanted. The décor was a lot of marble and everything was gleaming. Well you did not even have to open your own door. There were doorman to see that too! Food- It was great and one could never go hungry. Because this is a part of three other resorts, the Grand Palladium Bavaro Resort & Spa, the Fiesta Beach Resort & Spa and the Grand Palladium Palace you had six a la Cartes, six buffets available to you. We could have gone to all six a la Cartes as that was an extra too in the Royal Suites. Our favorite a la Carte was the La Gran Cantina Mariachi- Mexican and the favorite buffet was the La Torres. The service was so fast you had to sometimes hang on to you plate because they were always there trying to clear it away. Wine and drink service was excellent too.
Beach- In a word beautiful, the best there is. It had all the beach water sports, banana boats, parasailing, etc.
The markets on the beach are an experience for the adventurous barterer and that my husband Robert was. Why he even had other people on the resort wanting him to go to the market with him so he could do the bartering for them.Entertainment- There was lots to enjoy, disco, night shows, casino and a sport bar. We were up everyday early, walking on the beach, taking in the sun, swimming, so by end of day we were not up for too much nightlife. In closing this is a gem of a resort and especially the "Royal Suites". Of all our trips, this would have to be the best for beach, food, drinks, and rooms - "five star." We would recommend it to anyone and would go back again.
Thanks to Amigo Travel! Your quality service was appreciated!
Susan and Robert
Bridgewater Nova Scotia
Amigo Travel Ltd. 693 Highway 2 Unit #3
Elmsdale, NS B2S 1A8
Ph: (902) 883-3304
Fax: (902) 883-8785
Toll free:1-866-682-6446
Just got back on Sunday night from the DR. We all had a great time and the rooms were exactly as they were in the book. Bavaro Princess is a huge complex but very easy to get around. Our bungalow was only 2 minutes from the beach and maybe a 10 min walk to the main building. The trolley system they have runs about every 3-5 min so you could always catch one of these if you were to tired to walk. I would have to say from walking the beach that our beach area was one of the nicest. Our beach had lots of huts so we never had trouble getting one in the morning. We only went to the pool our first day and went to the one by the main building. This is the smaller of the two pools. Very clean and nice. The restaurants were nice we really enjoyed the steakhouse. There was always plenty of choices for your meals so you would not starve by any means. As for the people we had no trouble getting across what we wanted or needed and we speak no Spanish only the words we picked up there. We did do one day trip which was a Outback Safari, this was a ball. We seen plenty of the country side and we also learned a lot of the history of the DR and there people. Our tour guide was fantastic and spoke very good English and taught us how to bogie board. Oh don’t let me forget he all so mixed a great drink. Thanks for recommending this resort to us and I would give it a 5 star. I can’t understand why people would write negative reviews of a place so beautiful.
Thanks again
Dan and Carolyn Hirtle
Bavaro Princess
28 March-04 April/2004
BARBADOS
Almond Beach Club & Spa February 14 - 21, 2004
My wife and I just returned from Barbados to face the aftermath of the worst snowstorm since 1944. It was not a pretty sight after what we enjoyed during the previous week.
If you have never been to Barbados it is a trip you have to make. An absolutely gorgeous country. The people are friendly and very proud of their island. One thing we really liked about Barbados is the fact that everyone speaks English. British customs are evident everywhere. Tea in the afternoon and dress codes in the restaurants were a nice change and added class to the dining experience. The food at our resort was excellent in both menu selections and the buffet. Lots of variety. The service was also very good with friendly, attentive personnel.
The grounds at Almond Beach Club were spectacular. Mature growth flowering bushes and trees of all shapes and colors were well tended and artfully placed around the pools and buildings. As with most of the resorts we saw, the Almond has seen a good many visitors. The rooms are small but well maintained and appointed. The housekeeping staff is always ready to help with any problems you might have and they keep the rooms spotlessly clean.
If we had anything negative to say about the Almond Beach Club it would be about their beach, or the lack thereof. After a couple of days we did find a beautiful beach just a short walk away. Another thing that surprised us was the price of things in Barbados. Very, very expensive. (Duty free or not.)
During our stay we went on two outings. One was the Tiami Sunset Cruise along the south coast of Christ Church. This was a very enjoyable trip on a beautiful big catamaran. Some snorkeling over a shipwreck and a beautiful sunset. The other was the Adventure Land 4 x 4 tour of the island. This is a must do for any first time visitor to Barbados. The east coast was my favorite. Just plain fantastic scenery. The history and folklore of the island is also fascinating.
All in all we had a great trip. It is safe to say that we will return to Barbados some day. We loved it, and will always remember our first trip to the "Gem of the Caribbean".
Wayne & Claire Forbes,
Truro, Nova Scotia.
Hello we are all back!!!!!!!! It was an amazing trip. The resort was awesome and huge I think that I must have walked about 200km in the week that we were gone. I would have to say that the only complaint that I have would be that there were cars that were always driving around on the path that was used for walking and I would always find that I had to get out of the way. John said that he wished that there were more public washrooms as there were only a few on the entire resort. However other than those few minor things it was awesome. None of us had problems with sand flees and we were on the beach the whole time. They placed a lot of big rocks in the water so that the waves coming into shore were not very big which was really good. We went on the snorkeling trip that was offered by the hotel which was the highlight of the trip. I took 12 rolls of film and I already had them developed. I will have to bring them up to show you. I really appreciate all the help that you have given us during our trip planning and I will be sure to go through you when I go again which looks like it is going to be next Feb.. however we all want to go for 2 weeks next time and we want to go to Punta Cana there are also going to be more people going so if you get any good deals let me know. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks again from all of us us!!!!!
Natasha Dillman
Bahia Principe San Juan - Puerto Plata, DR
February 13-20, 2004
We made it back. Direct flight to Halifax on Sat. Feb. 21st. The delay was welcomed. The Resort took very good care of us. We kept our room until the time we left at midnight on Friday night (or Sat morning). The Concierge suite is definitely the way to go. The advantages were well worth the extra money. The private pick-up and drop-off at the airport was also very nice. I am very pleased with the Sandals Royal Hicacos. I did go and have a look at the Paradisus, it is also very lovely, but it did not have the Restaurants nor the beach of Royal Hicacos. I preferred the atmosphere of the Royal Hicacos, it was more relaxing (not as family oriented), more romantic and quiet. It was also very clean. The rooms were comfortable and quite large (very big bathroom). The dining rooms were very comfortable (lots of privacy, tables were far apart), 2 of their 5 kitchens were excellent, there was always a good variety of food. The evening entertainment was surprisingly quite good. Lots of talent and variety. The Air Transat represented was a nice touch, we met with her and got some good pointers. The resort had all kinds of activities, so if you were in a participating mood there was alot to do, if you wanted to be alone and enjoy the sunset there was alot of room for that too. The Spa was fair, nothing special, very few services. We visited Havana, took the political tour. Interesting, however my husband & I do not herd very well. The information was interesting, however the tourist traps were there. My husband is already talking about our next visit. Having seen the other hotels, we will be returning to Sandals Royal Hicacos. The Club Class seats was also extremely welcomed. When we got to the airport to depart we almost went into shock upon seeing the long line-up, however we had our boarding passes in 10 minutes, what a relief and a nice way to begin our trip. We faired well at the airport upon returning. I'm glad we arrived in day light ! Marc went to speak to the nice plow driver and I found a nice man with a shovel. We were out fast. I am very pleased with the whole experience and your services. Everything was perfect. Thank you.
Gigi Pelletier
Sandals Royal Hicacos - Varadero, Cuba
February 13-20, 2004
As I stated yesterday we did have an excellent trip. I did however have one negative event happen which you can use for info to your next customer, I decided to try the massage and I ended up in pain for two days. It's in my opinion that the personnel giving this service are not qualified, the female that I had twisted my body which created a muscle spasm in my back. I obviously was in a perfect spot to relax for the next two days so it didn't interfere with to much, it did certainly slow me down considerably though. The representative for Air Canada Vacations, Jose, was very efficient. He was very informed and extremely friendly. He was always available to help in any way and it was very much appreciated. I would also recommend that anyone travelling to this resort to take along a large amount of $1.00's if they like to tip the staff. It was almost impossible to get money changed. We were able to view both the Caribe and the Palace accommodations and found very little difference in that area. The big difference was with the line ups and available lounge chairs, both were excellent within the Palace resort. The friendliness of everyone was a pleasure. We are left with wonderful memories of our first Dominican vacation and it was all possible with your help. Were thinking of Jamaica for next year or maybe a cruise. I'll keep in touch. Thanks again for everything.
Karen Lays
Barceló Bavaro Palace - Punta Cana,
DR January 29-05 February, 2004
I had been at the Villa Cuba Resort last year at this same time, so I had a pretty good idea of what to expect. I guess the best way to look at it is that I would not be a returning guest if my first experience was bad.
Most people I guess are quite concerned with the food when they go on holiday, well once again, like last year I was VERY happy with the food. GREAT variety, well prepared, well presented. Vegetarian was also on the menu. Also the resort has many different dining options, so if you don't fancy one place, there are a few to choose from. Best pizza I've had in a while was at cafeteria la fontana, great stuff.
The resort also had many different options for BAR service, including my favorite, the panorama bar that had the best view in Varadero. I spent many an evening there with a nice cigar and a brandy. I started each glorious morning with an espresso in the lobby bar. The pool bar had the best Mojito's in town.
The staff were just amazing, many remembering me from last year. Quite amazing considering the number of people that go through in a year.
This resort has one of the BEST pieces of beach in all Varadero. nice and wide, clean sand, easy access to the warm sea water. If I was picking a place with a great beach, this is it.
The weather was not too hot, but just as I prefer, with a few clouds in the sky everyday, so the sun does not just beat down, there was one day that was about 10 C with no sun, and all the locals were bundled up like they were expecting a blizzard any second. I was telling anyone who would listen that 10 C isn't that bad, considering what I had at home at the time.
I just had a really relaxing, stress free experience, where I could do as much or as little as I wanted each day. I came back home refreshed and energized to take on the daily stuff that is life here in Toronto.
I brought down a bottle of Ontario wine, red and white, to enjoy with lunch. I was able to see how Cuban people live and survive under conditions that are not the greatest, but they are very happy people, glad to share their home and food with a visitor.
I guess most people who go to Cuba never step out of the gates of the resort. I personally think these people are missing great interaction with the most friendly, hospitable people anywhere. My dealings with the locals has given me motivation to go out and find a class that will teach Spanish. I truly want to be able to communicate with them, and learning a new language is also great for self development.
Every visit to Cuba I have brought down things to give out to the local people, and I did the same this time. I used my invitation for lunch to distribute pencils, crayons and some children's shoes. Since I was about 40Km away from Varadero that day, the people I saw were not really connected to the tourism industry, so they did not regularly get stuff like the people in Varadero or closer to Varadero. I think that the locals in the vicinity of varadero are overloaded with stuff given out by tourists, so it's probably best to put some distance between.
The bottom line here is that I enjoyed myself fully, I was quite happy with the resort and all it offered, and I'd go back tomorrow if I could.
I'm starting a Cuba 2004 fund right now, so you'll be hearing from me to make another booking.
If you have any clients who want some info on Villa Cuba, they are free to send me a mail and ask anything about it. Tell them you know a guy who has been there twice and is willing to answer questions.
Thanks again, you will hear from me for my next trip. Keep in touch
Mikko Vahalla
Villa Cuba, Varadero, Cuba
December 6-20, 2003