Athens and the Acropolis

I know it has been ages since my last blog post -- for that I apologize! Business and life have been so busy, which is a good thing!

I'm currently traveling in Greece! I arrived Friday evening in Athens, and spent two nights here. Later today I will be embarking on a 10 day Greek Isles cruise with the boutique luxury line Azamara Club Cruises. I have a great traveling companion (my mom), and am looking forward to the Seminar at Sea to learn more about this unique brand of cruise experiences.

Here in Athens, we're staying at the Grecotel Pallas Athena -- which is one of the boutique properties belonging under the Small Luxury Hotels of the World brand collection. This property is a very clean, lovely hotel with excellent staff and service. Our room is well appointed with a fantastic mini bar. Breakfast was outstanding with a great selection of cheese, pastries, the famous Greek yogurt, eggs, meats, etc. And it's just a short walk to the Plaka where you begin your uphill journey to the Acropolis.

As you know Athens has been having a lot of economic trouble, and this can be felt around the city. Shop owners admit to being stressed in these times, but they are very pleasant and helpful nonetheless. Shopping and food are a great value, so you can expect to find great prices. We decided our main objectives in the city are to visit the Acropolis, enjoy the wonderful cuisine, and try to recover from jet lag.

Visiting the Acropolis was truly amazing, and should be on every visitor's hit list. Your entry ticket of 12 Euros gives you access to a total of seven ancient sites and museums. The hike up to the top is hot and dry, so bring plenty of water, and wear a hat and sunscreen! The Parthenon and the other associated ruins set a spectacular stage for enjoying stunning views across the city to the Aegean Sea.

Thanks for checking out our blog. You can visit our Facebook page for more photos and to follow our travels. Stay tuned for updates from our upcoming Greek Isles cruise!

Hard Rock Riviera Maya and Secrets Maroma - Riviera Maya, Mexico

Hard Rock Riviera Maya

We spent a week at the beautiful all-inclusive Hard Rock Riviera Maya resort last month. This property has two sections -- the adults-only "Heaven" side and the family-friendly "Hacienda" side.

I'm unable to write a full review of the hotel at this time, so I am going to post photos with captions instead. Please fee free to send us a message if you have specific questions about this fantastic property.

The manmade cove beach. You can tell how bad the seaweed was this year.

Jim Morrison made out of vinyl records

Microphones converted into lighting

Rock n Roll Memorabilia can be found everywhere 

Gorgeous views at lunch

One of the main pools on the Heaven side

Secrets Maroma Beach

We spent one day doing a site inspection and using a day pass to enjoy the Secrets Maroma adults-only resort that is part of the AMResorts brand portfolio. We have special clients having a destination wedding at this property in the fall, so I wanted to check it out. It's set on a gorgeous beach, and features wonderful rooms and amenities.

Beautiful Maroma Beach

Fabulous Spa

Lovely place for the bride to get pampered on her wedding day

Massage table

Hydrotherapy

Outdoor couples massage

Romantic outdoor shower in the spa

Who doesn't love to relax on a hammock?

It's worthwhile to upgrade to the Club level for more amenities and better located room

Well-appointed rooms with two beds or one

A few rooms feature an outdoor jacuzzi

Mini bar

Romantic jacuzzi

The "Secret Box" - a was to receive room service with ultimate privacy

Swim Up Suites

Main pool

Bali beds on the beautiful beach

Hawaii Travel Exchange - Educational Adventure on Maui

What an amazing adventure to Maui! We traveled in late November 2014 to the beautiful island of Maui in the U.S. state of Hawaii. I like to point out that it is the 50th state. It is exotic, yet familiar. No passport needed. Purchases can be made in U.S. Dollars. Locals speak English. Yet you can learn about the interesting and unique culture of these Polynesian islands in the South Pacific, while exploring the lush, tropical paradise of the islands.

My first three nights were spent at the Grand Wailea Hotel - a Waldorf Astoria Resort. The room was luxurious and comfortable for resting after a busy day in the classroom learning more about the islands. My window looked out upon the gorgeous Pacific Ocean.

Our days were spent listening to updates from representatives of the Hawaii Visitors Bureau and its island chapters, as well as participating in one-on-one meetings with suppliers in the travel industry. We also had an opportunity to learn more about Hawaiian culture with hands-on lessons in lei making, hula dance, ukulele playing, and the local language. We also had the chance to tour additional area hotels including the Wailea Beach Marriott, Makena Beach & Golf Resort & Spa, Fairmont Kea Lani, and Mana Kai Maui. See photos below, and view more on our Treasure Travel Facebook Page.

Wedding Gazebo at Fairmont Kea Lani

Fairmont Kea Lani pool area

Views from Makena Lawn

Views from Breakfast at Mana Lani

Views from Marriott rooms

One highlight of the trip was the reception hosted by White Orchid Wedding (WOW) at their exclusive Beach House in a residential area of Makena. This property can be rented for weddings and other private events; and it is a stunning setting for a couple in love to say their vows.

Bernie is a fantastic wedding planner with WOW

On the fourth day our group split into post-fams 3-day excursions on different islands, and I had the privilege to stay on beautiful Maui! We moved on to Ka'anapali Beach area on the northwest of the island, where we spent one night at the Hyatt Regency in Maui and two nights at the Royal Lahaina Resort. I would recommend both properties without hesitation. The Hyatt is well-known for its excellent pool and upscale Japanese restaurant Japengo (amazing sushi!) while the Royal Lahaina has true Hawaiian charm, an excellent beach, and great pricing.

Views from Hyatt

Love this pool at the Hyatt

Grotto Bar at the Hyatt

Ocean views and perfect beach at Royal Lahaina

Suites at Royal Lahaina are a great value with great amenities

Last but not least, we spent a LONG day on the epic Road to Hana with its dangerous curves, spectacular vistas, hidden waterfalls, and numerous rainbows -- not only for the experience of the trip itself, but also to visit the very special Travaasa Hana hotel. This property is completely removed from the rest of Maui, and is a special gem that not a lot of travelers get to experience. The property is accessible by the long road trip to the southern tip of the island, or by a short and incredibly scenic flight from Kahului airport (OGG) for just $59 per person. Once you arrive at the resort, you feel you have entered another world. There are no TVs to occupy your time; you must get out and experience the real Hawaii. So many activities are included, and they even have a meal plan. This is the closest thing to an "all-inclusive" that Hawaii has to offer. While most of the property is family-friendly, they do have an adults-only section for those honeymooners and couples looking for romance, privacy, and seclusion.

Travaasa Hana - adults-only section

There are so many more wonderful stories and useful details from the Hawaii Travel Exchange. Please contact us if you have any questions or are interested in booking your own family vacation, honeymoon, or destination wedding in Hawaii!