Recommend September 2011 - (Page 82)

a home aWaY FRoM hoME continued from page 80 At Regal Beach Club, located in the middle of Seven Mile Beach, clients can opt for a 2-bedroom accommodation. something for every single taste and budget. Travel agents give us as many details as possible about a guest, and we’ll match them to the perfect property. We can provide baby gear, extra bedding, and a provisioning service to put the groceries they requested in the room before the guests arrive. We can provide liquor, food and drink, and special requests such as gourmet baskets or fruit bowls.” Families don’t even have to cook for themselves if they don’t want to; Cayman Villas can also arrange for private chefs to cook up a multi-course gourmet meal for a special occasion or just a family-friendly dinner to give mom and dad the night off. “You tell us what you want and we’ll arrange it,” Cumber says. Families can also choose a location that’s right for them, from the action close to George Town and along Seven Mile Beach, to more remote, relaxing areas. “Some of the villas farther south, along the rocky, sandy shorelines, are less expensive. There are those in the middle of Seven Mile Beach, with a lot of activities, and that appeals to people…. Some families prefer something less busy. If they have younger children, they might prefer that sort of thing—they don’t want to be with other people on the beach. They might prefer a little, unique, private house in the north side.” Though the Cayman Islands aren’t large in area, the vibe from place to place can differ greatly, making it a destination that appeals to many different vacationers. No matter where they stay, however, families can count on a smooth, hassle-free check-in process. Upon arrival to Grand Cayman, they can take a taxi or their rental car to the Cayman Villas office, which sits just 100 yards from the airport. (Cumber strongly suggests clients rent a car during their stay to maximize their sightseeing abilities.) There, they’ll pick up their keys and given any necessary instructions and directions to their villa. Should any problems arise, the Cayman Villas office is on call, as well as a property manager for each villa who’s never more than a few minutes away. “We make sure to give [families] a call the next morning, making sure they know where they are, that everything’s fine, that they don’t need any help.” 82 september 2011 Inside each villa, clients will find a large folder of information, similar to what you’d find in a hotel room, “telling them where to go and what to do,” Cumber describes. “Except these have even more information than what you’d find in a hotel room. We tell them where to go to church, nearby attractions, where to go fishing, activities on the island, especially the ones near them.… Customer service is high on our agenda,” she continues. “We want them to have a good experience so they’ll go back to that travel agent and make a repeat booking with us next year.” Want to see these villas for yourself? The Cayman Islands is offering free airfare for travel agents (and $99 airfare for a companion) on all Cayman Airways flights—an offer exclusively for travel agents. Between villa inspections, agents can check out the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, the historic site of Pedro St. James, or dive with Dive Tech and Ocean Frontiers, all of which are also offering discounts to the agent community. Visit caymanislands.ky/travelagent offers for a full list of savings for agents. villa-style resorts Villa-style vacations are perfect for families on a budget, but if your clients want the best of both worlds—spacious, multi-room accommodations with kitchens as well as large swimming pools, spas, and more—book a high-end room at these resorts. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman offers residential suites up to 1,858 sq. ft., complete with spacious living areas, private terraces, washer/dryers and full kitchens with granite countertops. Junior suites can be joined to the master to create up to three bedrooms in one layout. Plus, some of the Caribbean’s best amenities wait right outside their doors, including the Ambassadors of the Environment kids’ program that lets children of all ages explore sea life, and the ultra-luxe Silver Rain, a La Prairie Spa. Call for rates. Cotton Tree calls its accommodations “cottages,” but don’t be fooled by their quaint names. These 2-bedroom villas come with gourmet kitchens and spa-like bathrooms with jacuzzi tubs. The resort’s location at the northern end of West Bay is as serene as it gets, while still remaining only a short drive to Seven Mile Beach, and onsite amenities include a shared freshwater swimming pool, open-air spa pavilions, and of course, plenty of privacy—the boutique property comprises only four villas. Rates start at $520 per cottage per night. n Archived related articles (available on recommend.com): The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Does it Again (October 2010) contact information Cayman Villas: (800) 235-5888; caymanvillas.com Cotton Tree: (345) 943-0700; caymancottontree.com The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman: (800) 542-8680; ritzcarlton.com recommend.com http://www.caymanislands.ky/travelagent http://www.recommend.com http://www.caymanvillas.com http://www.caymancottontree.com http://www.ritzcarlton.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend September 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Abercrombie & Kent
Sunset Key Guest Cottages, Key West
Can't Get Enough of Jupiter Beach, Florida
Hanging Out in the Outer Banks
Aloha to Families in Hawaii's Resorts
Cruise Stockholm
Galapagos Islands- Cruising 101: Back to Basics
The Ultimate Family Adventure in Costa Rica
Flanders Travel Planner
Fabulous Family Voyages
China: A Wonderland for Kids
India: Pure Wonderment
An African Adventure
Dreams Punta Cana Resort & Spa, D.R.
The Bahamas: Islands of Adventure
Cayman Islands: A Home Away from Home
Mazatlan Reinvigorated
CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort

Recommend September 2011