Posts Tagged ‘luxury’

Where to Stay in Costa Rica: 5 Hotels to Make Your Trip Amazing

Monday, April 19th, 2010

I present to you a list of what I think are the top 5 hotels for families, groups of friends and honeymoons. I guarantee that staying in them will make your trip unforgettable.

1. Arenal Nayara Hotel & Gardens

Casa Panorama South is a luxury 3 floor villa with amazing ocean views just minutes away from Manuel Antonio National Park and the beach. It is also part of the exclusive Tulemar Gardens Community in Manuel Antonio. The first floor is a private one bedroom suite with private entrance and the second and third floors are beautiful two bedroom suite.

2. Villa Mot Mot

Villa Mot Mot is a two floor luxury villa located in the exclusive Tulemar Gardens, Manuel Antonio too. Both floors have independent entrances so you can either rent just one of them or the whole villa. It is minutes away from the beach and the Manuel Antonio National Park.

3. Villa Mot Mot

Casa Panorama North is also in Tulemar Gardens, Manuel Antonio. This is a luxury villa that offers a honeymoon suite and a two bedroom luxury vacation home each one has an amazing ocean view and private entrances. It is also close to the Manuel Antonio National Park and beach.

4. Casa Bella Rita

Casa Bella Rita is an intimate boutique hotel in San Jose. The place is run by Steve and Rita, the owners and breakfast is made to order, there is no menu or buffet. This bed and breakfast offers 6 beautifully decorated rooms and can be found very close to the international airport.

5. Casa Bella Rita

Arenal Nayara Hotel & Gardens offers 24 luxurious, private casitas scattered along beautiful gardens, each with amazing views of the Arenal Volcano which gives great lava shows almost every night. This is one of the best hotels in the Arenal area.

Marina K. Villatoro, the Travel Experta, has been living in Central America – Costa Rica and Guatemala for the past decade. Traveling with her family to all parts of Costa Rica and Guatemala, she now loves organizing vacations for people and offers first hand experience. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!

How To Choose Corporate Boat Cruises

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Do you want to do something special for your next company picnic? Would you like to show your client list how much you really care? Do you want to give that fifty-year employee a send off he or she will never forget? Consider an up and coming idea that more companies are utilizing, corporate boat cruises.

The internet is full of wonderful small cruise companies that cater to small and medium corporate needs. Many of these have special corporate packages to fit a variety of objectives. Use a search engine to find the one that is near to you and catches your fancy. Take your time and enjoy the many wonderful websites they have put together. There are beautiful pictures of old and new luxury liners and yachts in exotic and domestic ports.

A luxury yacht offers the same corporate facilities that a hotel offers and more. Included in the corporate packages is everything you will need to conduct business meetings, interviews, or parties. This includes modern satellite, GPs, and hi-def monitors. Telecommunications are also up-to-date and ready to connect you to the world.

Many corporations are booking cruises for a wide variety of reasons. Employee recognition is one very popular function that corporate boat cruises play in business today. Special client presentations are another. I have recently heard of a retirement party for a beloved CEO on a cruise ship. These are just a few of the reasons corporations utilize the services small cruise lines offer.

Research your list of possible candidates carefully to get the right size ship for your needs. Many of these companies have more than one ship in their fleet. Some cruise companies offer older, more nostalgic yachts while others feature luxury cruisers up to two hundred feet long. Either way you decide to go, you will surely have an experience your employees or clients will not soon forget.

The cost of a small cruise ship compared to hotel facilities is close. The cruise ship is a few hundred dollars more but many of the extras that you would pay a hotel are included in the cruise package making it the better value. Just like hotels, pricing ranges from cruise company to cruise company. On average, $1.000 to $4.000 is about standard depending on the length of the cruise and the entertainment or dining package included.

Every corporate cruise company has a dedicated sales force that is ready to work with you in planning your company’s cruise. They are extremely knowledgeable with most corporation’s meeting and presentation needs and have the packages that fit almost any occasion. Most modern cruise ships are loaded with exactly the kind of equipment and technology needed for corporate business. Much of the time, the only things a company needs to supply are the bodies.

Finally, make sure you are prepared when you make your call. You will need to know how many employees and their families will be attending the event. The Events Manager will lead you through the process and help you decide on a package that best fits your particular company’s needs. This includes what type of food, beverages are served, and what kind of equipment will be needed to conduct whatever business you are planning. The most important thing to remember is that even though your trip might be business related, corporate boat cruises are going to combine your business with pleasure, so plan on having a great time.

If visiting the Toronto Harbour inspires your adventurous and fun loving side, then Toronto cruises are perfect for you! Tourists and vacationers can find plenty of excitement aboard Halloween cruises.