Monday, November 9, 2009

Couples Romantic Getaway in Mexico

Luxury travel advisors, Bowden Sarrett and Kemper Sarrett, just returned from a couples romantic getaway in Mexico. Below is a photo tour through their incredible time:

Our romantic getaway began at the Vallarta Palace Hotel. Each afternoon they deliver a bucket with two iced corona beers and chips and salsa and guacamole. Heaven!

Here is the view from our room at the Vallarta Palace Hotel.
This is the view inside our room at the Vallarta Palace Hotel. Note the big jacuzzi tub!Our room had an incredible view over the Pacific ocean..here is a shot looking out from our room.Another picture taken from our patio out towards the Pacific. We had the same view at the outdoor restaurant where we ate most of our breakfasts. Moletes and chilaquiles were our favorites!One of our first days, we had lunch in Zihuatenejo at the Fat Mermaid or La Siera Gorda. Cold beer and tiratas (fish strips marinated in lime juice) and fish tacos were incredible.We also stayed at the Ixtapa Capella! Capella has stunning views as it is built on the side of a cliff. It has a funicular to take you up and down if you dont want to climb the steep stairs. It is actually great fun to ride! Here we are in Capella's infinity pool. You can tell how amazing the views are. We also spent a little time checking out The Tides Zihautenajo. We had a fabulous meal here out on the beach. Here are our delectable dishes: Bowden's seafood plate and Kemper's sea bass.This was our view of the town of Zihautenajo sparkling across the bay.Flaming coffee after dessert at The Tides!
We spent a day deep sea fishing out of Zihautenejo and had a blast. Bowden caught the first fish-mahi mahi. Kemper caught more fish-and bigger ones! The sea was really rough..you may not be able to tell from the pics,but the waves were like The Perfect Storm...
We enjoyed a really unique dinner outside at Capella. We took some of the tuna and mahi (dolfin) back and visited with the chef in the afternoon after fishing. He offered to cook our catch for us specially for dinner.Here is some of the sushi and shashimi that the chef made from the tuna we caught!
The Vallarta Palace Hotel and Capella Ixtapa were captivating properties. We also loved taking a peak at the Tides Zihautenejo. We did not want to come home!
To learn more about romantic couples getaways in Mexico, contact luxury travel advisor Bowden Sarrett.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Adventure Travel in Mexico

Bowden Sarrett, one of our top Mexico travel specialists, has just returned from a fantastic stay at Capella Ixtapa Resort & Spa. While there, she had a blast rapelling and zip-lining--Read about it and see her great photos below!

In Puerto Vallarta, Mexico we did a full day excursion with Vallarta Adventures. We began our adventure in Nuevo Vallarta, where we boarded a boat. (There they have huge tanks and work with and train dolphins and I assume have regular shows and swim sessions.). We took the inflatable boat ride to a tiny village where we got in the back of a truck to ride up the mountain. Seat belts required! Finally at the top we were outfitted with climbing harnesses and helmits and applied lots of bug spray before we mounted surefooted mules for a slow ride to the summit. After a safety talk and an up close visit with a tarantula we descended by multiple zip lines over the trees and waterfalls and also did a little bit of rapelling which twice landed us in freezing cold water. The day involved a little bit of hiking and lots of fun and the reward at the end was chips and salsa before the ride down the mountain in that same old truck. They had cold beer for sale too! Below are more fun photos. This experience is a must for anyone wanting a bit of adventure while on vacation in Mexico!

To learn more about adventure travel experiences or travel in Mexico, contact Bowden Sarrett by clicking here.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

A Kid Friendly Retreat in Las Vegas

Suzette Mack, one of our top family travel specialists, has just returned from Vegas with insights into kid-friendly travel!


I don’t generally recommend Las Vegas as a family vacation destination, but sometimes a trip there is necessary due to family or work obligations. Parents can avoid the casinos, clubs, and any other “scenery” they find too risqué for their children, yet still enjoy luxurious amenities and exemplary service by staying at the Four Seasons Hotel. Located near the airport, in the Mandalay Bay complex, the Four Seasons offers a non-smoking, non-gaming retreat. In fact, when sitting poolside, or enjoying a meal on the terrace, it almost feels like being in Hawaii. Yet steps away are the casinos and pools of Mandalay Bay, as well as a complimentary car service ready to whisk guests in comfort to other destinations on The Strip.I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, and though I was not with my children, the family-friendliness of the hotel was evident. In fact, I ran into several parents with young children during my stay. The rooms are spacious, and the one bedroom suites are particularly nice for families as they have a sofa bed in the living room. There’s even ample space for a rollaway (which was one of the plushest I have ever seen), so each child can have their own bed. The main Four Seasons pool is modest in size compared to other Las Vegas hotel pools, but it is quiet and well-staffed with pool attendants who promptly bring towels and a pitcher of ice water with lemon wedges. There’s even a sunglass butler to clean guests’ glasses and tighten up loose screws. A small wading pool located on the far side of the bar gives parents with young children their own retreat. And for children of all ages (even grown-ups), the Mandalay Bay wave pool and lazy river are just steps away through a private gate which only Four Seasons guests may use. The Four Seasons Hotel actually occupies the 35th through 39th floors of the Mandalay Bay tower. However check-in is completely separate, and guests take an express elevator to their rooms. It is possible to never see a slot machine or gaming table while at the Four Seasons, but for those who want to gamble, the Mandalay Bay casino is just steps away through a key carded door exclusively for use of Four Seasons guests.Brownell is a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, so my guests receive daily breakfast for two (a $76 value, which covers the wonderful buffet), a $100 spa credit per room, and a complimentary upgrade, based on availability. And suites are very affordable right now, as a Buy 1 Night Get One Free promo runs through the end of the year.


For more information about family travel or special rates and amenities at Four Seasons Resorts & Hotels worldwide, contact Suzette Mack, Family Travel Specialist at suzette@family-treks.com.

Monday, November 2, 2009

The Loss of a Friend and Visionary


Anton Turner, a dear friend and safari guide and manager at Lukula Selous Camp, was tragically killed on Friday, October 30 while on a filming expedition with BBC in Selous. Please read Brownell Travel Advisor Vicki Upchurch's note about Anton below.

This spring a darling young man from Tanzania came to stay in our guest house. He arrived in the U.S. without a credit card (believed in the cash system) so he could not rent a car or, in some cases, a hotel room. He borrowed a car from a mutual friend in Boulder and drove to the mountains. He and his father had been hunters but realized that education was the way to preserve Africa and founded the Selous Project. He had just been featured in Elite Traveler when he arrived here and was so surprised and pleased when I showed him the issue.

He gave me a DVD of what he was doing, which I made copies of and sent to the offices, and he was doing great work. He had a vision, and a plan, and was starting to make it come together. Keeping in touch with him this year has been so much fun as his enthusiasm for what he was doing was infectious. He was seeing his dream become reality and he was about to become a first time father.

Even though his life has been cut short, his dream will live on.

This makes the saying "live your life as if every day was your last" even more poignant.


To learn more about The Sesous Project, please click here http://www.selousproject.com/

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Getaway on Turks and Caicos

Alysia Hopper and her family took time for some Caribbean travel in the beautiful Virtuoso resorts on Turks and Caicos this summer. Read below about their fabulous experiences!
My family and I recently returned from a little summer break week in Turks and Caicos. I was amazed at the development the island has seen! There is building galore going on and Grace Bay Beach has really become lined with hotels.

If a luxury beach vacation on Turks is calling you but you have a desire to still get away from it all, consider booking a hotel off of the main island. Parrot Cay is a wonderful 5 star resort on its own island about a 15 -20 minute boat ride away. It is a VIRTUOSO property and along with rooms, you may also rent homes for larger family stays. Among the homes for rent there are Donna Karan’s compound and Bruce Willis’ compound. The resort is low key luxe at its best.

Another great option for those who wish to be closer to the action but still want that private island feeling is AMANYARA. Another VIRTUOSO property located at the Northwest point of Provo with 99 of its own acres., it takes 25 mins to get here from the airport or (anywhere else in town) and the last 10 minutes of this is on an unmarked dirt road…the contrast between your drive into the resort and the resort itself is fantastic! The resort is an oasis of serenity and beauty…an amazing place. I highly recommend it for a couples get away. There are no connecting “rooms’” at this resort, so this not ideal for families. While there are fabulous villas to rent for a multi generational get away, its still better if your kids are a little older as the rooms at the villa are also separated from one another by a pool or a reflecting pond (depending on the villa chosen). As far as activities go, there are many to choose from. A highlight for us was a sunset ride along Long Bay beach with Provo Ponies (http://www.provoponies.com/) This was definitely a treat! The tide was high so we could not “swim” with our horses, but we will plan it for low tide next time. Some other things we enjoyed were: spa treatments at the Regent Palms hotel, a snorkeling trip with Big Blue Unlimited (http://www.bigblue.tc/) out to water cay, pine cay and parrot cay.

Another treat was the food! We enjoyed a great casual meal on the beach at Horse Eye Jacks, a superb lunch at the Gansevoort hotel poolside, and a fine dining experience at Anacaona’s at the Grace Bay Club with a pre-drink at the Infinity Bar. My all time favorite dish, however, was the tuna sashimi appetizer (big enough to be eaten as the main entrée) at Coco Bistro. It was delicious! Other meals not to miss are dinner at dinner at Amanyara, my favorite new hotel in the Caribbean, and lunch poolside at Parrot Cay if you take a snorkel trip for the day.

A fantastic family vacation! We cant wait to go back!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Travel + Leisure A-List Agents!

Read below for the press release on our very own Margret Propper and Ellen LeCompte!


Brownell Travel's
Margret Propper and Ellen LeCompte Recognized as Top Travel Agents by Prominent Magazine



New York, NY (October 21, 2009) - In its October issue, available now on newsstands, Travel + Leisure magazine reveals the top travel agents in the world, including Ellen LeCompte and Margret Propper from Brownell Travel, a member of leading travel network Virtuoso ®. For the 8th annual "A-List," Margret and Ellen were two of only 129 top travel agents selected by Travel + Leisure editors, who evaluated hundreds of candidates for this highly selective guide. The prestigious list organizes the agents by area of specialization and includes their years of experience and consulting fees. Margret appears in the Alaska category, and received this recognition based on 35 years of experience with travel to Alaska. Ellen was selected for England travel with over 20 years of experience. Virtuoso travel experts accounted for 76 of these 129 top agents - nearly 60 percent of the list. The complete 2009 A-List is available on http://www.travelandleisure.com/.


"We are proud that Virtuoso experts, like Margret Propper and Ellen LeCompte, have the honor of being named the best in their field by Travel + Leisure's very knowledgeable editorial team," said Matthew D. Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso. "Margret and Ellen are representative of the more than 6,000 Virtuoso advisors whose efforts change people's lives through the experience of travel. Those who travel with Margret and Ellen do so with confidence and enjoy the collaboration and 'Return on Life™' that comes from working with a Virtuoso advisor."

Travel + Leisure Editor-in-Chief Nancy Novogrod said, "Given the complications of life these days, along with the abundant opportunities to travel well at a good price, an experienced travel agent can make a huge difference. Our A-List Guide is a terrific resource for interesting travels--and stress reduction."

Travel + Leisure's "A-List" agents also shared their insights on current travel habits and preferences. Some highlights include:

More families are taking multigenerational vacations to Africa, Southern Europe (Tuscany and Provence), and Greece, despite the economic turndown;

T+L A-Listers cite the growing appeal of train travel around the world, in places such as Australia, Russia, and Kenya;

Travel deals may not be this good again for a long time. Top five value destinations include: Chile, Argentina, Australia, South Africa, and Switzerland.

Whether it is a seat on a sold-out flight, booking the preferred corner room with a view, or mapping out a complicated itinerary, these "A-List" agents, including Ellen and Margret, can make travelers' most difficult requests possible. For more information on traveling under the guidance of an "A-List" agent, contact Margret Propper at 205-414-7109 or margretp@brownelltravel.com, or Ellen LeCompte at 804-353-0075 x3 or ellen@sterlingtvl.com.

# # #
About Brownell Travel
Brownell Travel, founded in 1887 and headquartered in Birmingham, AL, is the oldest retail travel agency in North America. For more than a century, the travel advisors of Brownell have dedicated themselves to providing their clients with exceptional travel experiences. The personal relationship between advisor and client has been a hallmark of Brownell for more than a century. Beyond travel agents, Brownell's advisors are recognized as the very best by the leading travel authorities and magazines for their supreme expertise, experience and highest professional standards. In addition, Brownell's innovative Hosting and Mentoring programs are leading the industry for developing top-notch luxury travel advisors. To learn more about Brownell, visit us on the web at http://www.brownelltravel.com/.

About Virtuoso
Virtuoso® is the industry's leading luxury travel network. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 300 agencies with more than 6,000 elite travel specialists in 22 countries in North and South America, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, as well as over 1,000 of the world's best travel providers and premier destinations. The network's member agencies generate over $5.1 billion annually in travel sales, making the group the most powerful in the luxury travel segment. Their relationships with the finest travel companies provide the network's affluent clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. Virtuoso is the exclusive network of travel services and benefits provided by MasterCard® for participating World Elite MasterCard® programs. For more information, please visit http://www.virtuoso.com/.

About Travel + Leisure
Travel + Leisure and its website http://www.travelandleisure.com/ propel readers to travel now, travel smarter, and travel often. With an eye for the authentic, the innovative, and the irresistible, T+L fuses expert reporting on style, culture, food, and design with stunning photography to transport its readers to the places-and the experiences-that matter most. The long-standing authority in its field, Travel + Leisure has the largest, most affluent audience of any travel magazine and is an indispensable read for today's global citizen. Travel + Leisure has a network of international editions, including Travel + Leisure Mexico, Travel + Leisure Australia/New Zealand, Travel + Leisure Turkey, Travel + Leisure China, Travel + Leisure South Asia, and Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia.

Media Contacts:
Haisley Smith
Marketing Director, Brownell Travel
205-414-7175

Misty Ewing
Virtuoso - Director, Public Relations
Ph: 212.588.8242 or m: 206.484.8022
Elizabeth Marsh / Rachael Chappa
Travel + Leisure
Ph: 212.382.5684 / 212.642.1972

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialists 2009

This week, Condé Nast Traveler magazine has released its August issue, which contains one of the most valuable resources for travelers each year! The best of the best of travel specialists for destinations throughout the world. These 126 specialists are chosen among hundreds of applicants for their expertise. Here is an excerpt of what Wendy Perrin had to say in the magazine and her glowing recommendations of Brownell's own Meg North (Panama and Recommended Generalist), Margret Propper (Alaska and European River Cruise), Linda Allen (Affordable Large Ship), Marion Harbison (Germany), and Caroline Wood (Rocky Mountains). We are beyond proud to have our advisors topping the list again for the best travel advisors in the world!

126 Top Travel Specialists
(and what they can do for you)

"Twenty years of interviewing travel agents and tour operators for “The Perrin Report” and other Conde Nast Traveler articles has given me a well-thumbed directory of the most trusted insiders—people who offer the best combination of specialized knowledge (based on firsthand travel experience), local connections, user-friendliness, and value for your dollar.

Each year, my team and I evaluate hundreds of new applicants to this list, and only a small number make the cut. Our recommended specialists have undergone a rigorous screening process that beings with at 47-question application with sample itineraries and client references, then continues with phone interviews and, in most cases, road-testing by Conde Nast Traveler staff. Those who unnecessarily book trips through pricey middlemen (as opposed to directly with local hotels and suppliers) or use on-site contacts that charge exorbitant rates are disqualified....

I receive hundreds of letters annually from readers reporting back on their trips that were arranged by these travel planners. Any specialist who is the object of valid complaints is removed from the list." –Wendy Perrin

And the picks from Brownell are....

Panama and Recommended Generalist
Meg McGriff North
North, who can pull strings with Panama’s top resorts and inns, enjoys arranging exclusive experiences such as an “up close and personal” view of the ships transiting the Panama Canal’s locks-including a private tutorial on how the giant gates are controlled- and a visit to a family-owned coffee farm where you can enjoy a brew that North calls “the best coffee in the world” (205-414-1653; megn@brownelltravel.com; http://www.brownelltravel.com/)

Germany
Marion Harbison
Harbison spends two weeks a year in her native Germany, where she used to be a travel agent. Not only can she point you toward the country’s less-visited castles, regional specialty snacks, and colorful small-town festivals but she can get you into private wineries and local events you won’t find on the Internet. (423-894-9001; marion@sterlingtvl.com; http://www.sterlingbrownell.com/)

Alaska
Margret Propper
Propper has been to Alaska 43 times- and in every season of the year. She’s driven the backroads, taken the scenic trains, flown on bush planes to remote Eskimo villages, sussed out the most atmospheric lodges and B&Bs, and tested a wide range of local adventure outfitters (for glacier dog-sledding, kayaking among the whales, hot-air ballooning, etc.) to determine which offer the most authentic experiences at the lowest price. She’s also cruised on ships large and small, taken every shore excursion, and figured out the best ways to combine days at sea with days on land. (800-999-3690; margretp@brownelltravel.com; http://www.brownelltravel.com/)

Rocky Mountains
Caroline Wood
Having grown up in Yellowstone National Park with a dad who is still a seasonal ranger for the Park Service, Wood has incomparable knowledge of the driving routes, the lodge and ranches (and their views, beds, and meals), and they best locales and outfitters for horseback riding, white-water rafting, ballooning, or whatever other activity you’ve got in mind in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. (406-624-6976; carolinewood@brownelltravel.com; http://www.brownelltravel.com/)

Europe: River Cruises
Margret Propper
Propper, who once lived within walking distance of the Danube and is fluent in German, has spent the past decade cruising all of Europe’s great rivers, from the Douro in Portugal to the Volga in Russia. She can find the waterway and boat best suited to your needs, advise you on how to spend days on land, and arrange unusual shore excursions, such as a visit to a private dacha in Russia (800-999-3960; margretp@brownelltravel.com; http://www.brownelltravel.com/).

Large Affordable Ships
Linda Allen

Stretching your dollar as far as it can go is Allen’s priority. What we love most is her honesty about potential drawbacks of each ship and her nifty tips for minimizing theses and for saving money on board. Use Allen for Celebrity, Holland America, Princes, and Royal Caribbean sailings (800-422-3445; cruisesbylinda@cox.net; http://www.brownelltravel.com/).
Visit our website at http://www.brownelltravel.com/ to learn about all of our luxury travel experts, or contact any of our specialists above to learn more about exceptional travel experiences.