Often overlooked, art and music are a big part of Hawaii’s culture. The art and artisans, music, and dance of the Islands range from traditional to contemporary. The realm of the arts offers fun and immersive ways to explore and enjoy Hawaii’s diverse multicultural landscape. Music and cultural festivals to art exhibitions and theater productions should be a must on your Hawaii visit!

Hawaii’s cultural festivals are many!

If exploring local art is a must on your vacation, check out the Honolulu Biennial, an Oahu art exhibition that contributes to local and indigenous perspectives, knowledge and creative expressions. This event is March 8th through May 5th.

In early summer, the annual Molokai Hula Ka Piko festival, happening May 30th to June 1st, celebrates the traditions of the island’s early history that speak of it being the birthplace of hula.

In September, attend the Kauai Mokihana Festival, a week long celebration of Hawaiian culture featuring music, hula competitions and educational lectures.

Hawaii’s unique art exhibits!

Oahu’s Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum for “The Untold Stories of Easter Island.” Running through May, the exhibition showcases artifacts from the South Pacific nation of Rapa Nui and aims to transport visitors beyond the island’s world-famous moai (carved stone statues). Learn about its unique environment and history.

On Maui, the Maui Arts and Cultural Center is a year-round art exhibit focusing on paintings and ceramic works, to two- and three-dimensional depictions exploring the history of surfing.

Are you a theater enthusiast? visiting Kumu Kahua Theatre in Oahu offers a variety of year-round productions featuring locally inspired narratives written and produced in the Islands.

Hawaiian cultural workshops are also a great way to experience the culture. Maui Nui Botanical Gardens and Kauai Cultural Center, offer a variety of activities ranging from creating kapa (bark cloth) and weaving fishnets, to cooking with the Hawaiian dietary staple ulu (breadfruit) and making the steamed kalo (taro) and coconut milk dessert kulolo. Personally, I would love to learn to cook a few Hawaiian dishes!

Hawaii’s Music Scene!

Music festivals are happening on the Islands year-round. Experience the musical styles of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festivals on Kauai, Maui, Oahu and the island of Hawaii by attending the Ki-Ho Alu Foundation’s series. On the island of Hawaii, check out the Kahilu Theatre, which schedules a diverse selection live musical performances.

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At Excellence El Carmen you are secluded but not isolated. This is a all-adult, all-suite resort and it is situated on a beautiful Caribbean beach in a palm grove on the east coast of the Dominican Republic. Its architecture is in the Contemporary Caribbean style, and there are 23 pools winding throughout the grounds! Excellence El Carmen gives you free rein to create each day your way.

Destination Highlights

• 12 international restaurant options–(no reservations required).
• There are 16 bars including poolside and beachside. Also available are a cigar lounge and coffeehouse.
• Fully equipped fitness center & Miilé Spa.
• Spanish lessons, dancing lessons, and cooking lessons, board games, air rifle shooting, bocce, aerobics & water aerobics, yoga, and football on the beach.
• 39 minutes for PUJ airport.

Things To Do

• Lots of day & night activities are scheduled.
• Local excursions like day trips to Santo Domingo, Outback Safari tours, Marinarium, Caribbean Pirates tour or Zip Lines tours.
• Active activities at the resort include: Use of snorkeling gear, 607-meter jogging course, introductory scuba lessons or bicycling. That’s just to name a few..

So what can the Excellence El Carmen offer you?

I think the Excellence El Carmen has a lot to offer. I had the pleasure of staying in a luxury suite with a private plunge pool. It was so nice to sit on my patio and have breakfast. I had my own Bali bed to lounge on, and get work done:). The set up between the 2 buildings with the large pool was awesome. The pool had its own wait staff & bar. All of us were in those 2 buildings, so we would just meet at the larger pool to visit. The nice thing was, that pool was not super close, there was a grassy area between my room/outdoor patio area and the pool, so I didn’t feel crowded.

The Miilé Spa and Wellness Center was really well designed. Fantastic facility! Massages, facials & body treatments. They also offer couples treatments and bridal spa packages.

The Restaurants! You probably already know this about me, but FOOD is a big part of my vacation. I love trying new things. They have a really good variety of options, but you will have to try The Lobster House! It is an open-air thatch-roof palapa with a tropical atmosphere and a garden view. For Breakfast, they have an la carte continental breakfast menu. For dinner, the restaurant turns into a wonderful destination for all things lobster! Really good!

The Dominican Republic has some amazing resort options and lots of activities to choose from. Customizing a vacation package to suit your needs is what I love doing. Give me a call and let’s customize your next vacation.

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Eden Roc

Eden Roc at Cap Cana is a five-star resort providing an intimate Caribbean hideaway with a focus on privacy, wellness, serenity and romance in an ultra-luxury private boutique hotel. Located in the exclusive gated community of Cap Cana, this breathtaking resort is surrounded by a tropical rainforest, pristine beaches, towering cliffs, a bustling marina and a Jack Nicklaus signature golf course. Eden Roc at Cap Cana is a blend of the French and Italian Rivieras with the charm of the Caribbean.

Destination Highlights

• 3 restaurants & 3 bar/lounges. Also available, in-room dining and meal plan options with diverse culinary selections.
• Luxury, private roundtrip transportation between the airport and your hotel is included in your package
• Each suite offers its own private swimming pool and golf cart (excluding Beachfront Suites)
• Solaya Spa offers a full spa menu of massages, body treatments and facials along with a beauty salon offering manicure, pedicure and haircut options.
• Koko Kids Club
• Located 10 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport

Things To Do

• Shopping and activities within walking distance
• Scape Park – Natural theme park
• Los Establos Cap Cana – Equestrian Center
• Punta Espada – a Jack Nicklaus 18-hole golf course
• This resort also offers Yoga, Pilates, wine tasting, cooking and cocktail classes, Spanish lessons, Dominican Rhythms lessons and water sports. Some activities require an additional fee.
• OUT of the ORDINARY EXPERIENCES include:
  • Flying over Paradise: Helicopter & private Jet Excursions
  • Saona Island: Excursions available via Private boat/ Catamaran/ Private Jet/ Private helicopter.
  • Private Ecotourism Safari’s

Pure Luxury offered here at Eden Roc

This 30,000-acre resort and residential complex is an ecological marvel. Walking around the grounds here, I was amazed. Truly stunning! Luxury, relaxation, wellness, cuisine.. All at your fingertips here. To up the ante, Eden Roc now offers In-Suite services by Solaya Spa, which allow you to experience an authentic spa treatment without leaving the comfort of your room.Eden Roc Cap Cana has two distinct resort areas:

• the in-land Boutique Suite segment, offering 34 stand-alone Suites & Villas overlooking the garden or the lagoon-style pools. These lavish boutique villas have their own private swimming pool and gazebo, exterior rain shower and spa area and exclusive use of a golf cart. The kid rooms in these villas were set up perfectly. They thought of everything!
• Eden Roc Beach Club is surrounded by 26 stunning Beachfront Two Bedroom Suites and 4 new Oceanfront Pool Villas.

Traveling as a couple or with your family, an experience here, at Eden Roc, will leave you breathless.

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Heritage famly travel is a growing. You grew up hearing the stories of your family’s past. Feeling curious about who you are and where you come from, you feel compelled to undertake a fascinating journey to strange regions of the world to find little piece of your past. Family heritage vacations can inspire the stories you and your relatives repeat and reminisce over for years.

Planning a Heritage Travel trip is definitely on the top of a wish list for me. I have been very lucky to be able to hear family stories. My Great Grams passed away at the age of 103. She told me stories about living on the frontier, yes, I am serious when I say that and she had this amazing garden. She was alive when Wyatt Earp was alive! That’s amazing to me. My other great grams only spoke Finnish and somehow we all knew what she was saying. My Auntie D has also spent years researching family history. Reminiscing about those experiences and the stories I have been told is priceless to me. Seeing the places in some of those stories would be epic!

For many people who do not have access to living relatives or to historical family documents, DNA testing from companies like Ancestry.com and 23andMe are making it easy to learn about your past. These companies are more accessible now and at a much cheaper rate than in the past. Advancements in DNA technology and genealogical research allow them to provide more information about your heritage than they ever could before.

Where will your roots take you?

Taking a family vacation is one thing, but planning a Heritage Family travel Vacation to learn about your past is quite another. The visit could take you places you never imagined. A step back in time. Some people are interested in the country or countries where they have roots, while others are hoping to connect with actual relatives. Whether you are basing your travels off of a DNA test or from hearing story’s of your families past, these itineraries are completely customized to you. I hope you have a chance to take an adventure like this. The memories will last a lifetime.

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Since I was a kid, I have been in love with pools. Pool hair? I don’t care! Growing up, I was lucky enough to have grandparents that had a really nice in-ground pool- which I spent hours of my kid-life in.  Now I am an adult, and yes, I am STILL in LOVE with a good pool- and continue to spend many adult hours in!   If I can’t swim in the ocean, then I need a good pool!  Here are some gorgeous, jaw-dropping pools at some gorgeous Vacation Villas to drool over and maybe book your next trip to with family or maybe some friends!

Picturesque pools! Imagine yourself here.

Balinese Villa Turkes & Caicos……almost nothing beats that ocean view!  Imagine being on your floaty with your drink in hand with that view! The pool and the ocean almost become one.

Los Cabos, Mexico- the Villa Serena bring that beautiful beach and Pacific waters together in this amazing infinity pool.

Naiik

Get a load of this amazing rooftop Infinity Pool in Riviera Maya, Cancun. Be pleasantly WOW’D with the view of this amazing pool!

Palmasola Punta Mita, Mexico

One of my most favorite romantic locations in Mexico- Puerto Vallarta.  This villa has a gorgeous pool with all the beautiful palm trees to feed your happiness!  I an imagine reading a good book here, can you?

All of these Vacation Villas & jaw-dropping pools are a short plane ride away!  Here at ATA, we have unique relationships with villa rentals around the world. Give us a call to talk about a Villa that would be right for you and your travel plans!

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There are so many breath-taking points of interest when considering Central American Vacations. From snorkeling to zip-lining to cave explorations and of course, stepping into a civilization’s past when discovering the Mayan Ruins of Tikal.

Tikal 101 – A Central American Vacations fact sheet

Tikal is just two hours away from the Belizean border and remains one of the most popular attractions in Guatemala. Almost any traveler who visits the western part of Belize (San Ignacio Town) travels to Guatemala for the day to visit this majestic Maya site.

Located in the Peten Region of Guatemala, Tikal is an early classic to late classic Maya City. Here are 12 surprising things about Tikal:

1.) Tikal is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centers of the pre-Columbian Maya Civilization.

2.) The name Tikal may be derived from ti ak’al in the Yucatec Maya language; and it is said to be a relatively modern name meaning “at the waterhole”.

3.) The Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes passed within a few kilometers of the ruins of Tikal in 1525, however, he didn’t mention them in his letters.

4.) There are traces of early agriculture in Tikal that dates as far as 1000 BC.

5.) The architecture of Tikal is built from limestone and includes the remains of temples that tower over 70 meters high, large royal palaces and a number of smaller pyramids, palaces, residences, administrative buildings, platforms and inscribed stone monuments.

6.) In 1979, Tikal was declared a UNESCO world heritage site.

7.) According to Archaeologists, Tikal was the capital of a conquest state that became one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Maya.

8.) Tikal reached its apogee during the Classic Period, ca 200 to 900 AD during this time the city dominated much of the Mesoamerican region politically, economically and militarily.

9.) The Tikal National Park covers an area of 575.83 square kilometers and was created on May 26 1955 under the auspices of the Instituto de Antropologia e Historia and was the first protected area in Guatemala.

10.) The population estimates for Tikal vary from 10,000 to as high as 90,000 inhabitants with the most likely figure being at the upper end of this range.

11.) The dynastic line of Tikal, founded as early as the 1st century AD, spanned 800 years and included at least 33 rulers.

12.) The tallest structure in Tikal is 65 meters in height and is the temple of the two-headed snake that was built by King Yaxkin Caan Choc in 470 A.D. This temple is a must climb for the adventurous!

What would your dream itinerary to Belize look like if you were to create one of the countless options for Central American Vacations? Here is one to consider…

Day 1 Belize City

Day 2 Belize City/Flores
Cross the border into Guatemala and continue on to Flores.

Day 3 Flores
Enjoy a guided tour of the Tikal archaeological site. Return to Flores and opt to swim in Lake Petén Itzá or hire a boat for a relaxing day.

Day 4 Flores
Enjoy a full free day to explore Flores and surrounds.

Day 5 Flores/San Ignacio
Cross back into Belize and opt to visit the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich.

Day 6 San Ignacio
Enjoy a free day to visit sacred Mayan caves of Actun Tunichil Muknal or Crystal Cave. Opt to check out Barton Creek Cave, Mountain Pine Ridge, and Caracol, or check out the seldom-visited Mayan ruins of Xunantunich.

Day 7 San Ignacio
Enjoy a 1-day guided canoe trip on the Old Belize River. Spend days spotting wildlife and nights sleeping in tents along the river banks.

Day 8 San Ignacio/Hopkins
Travel to Hopkins and visit a part of Belize that has not yet hit the well-trodden tourist trail.

Day 9 Hopkins
Opt to visit nearby palmed Tobacco Caye and do some snorkeling, take in a Garifuna drumming show and lesson, or explore the area by bicycle.

Day 10 Hopkins/Caye Caulker
Travel day to beautiful Caye Caulker. Later, explore Caye Caulker
Day 11 Caye Caulker
Enjoy a full-day sailing and snorkeling trip to Hol Chan Marine Reserve and two other sites on the Belize Barrier Reef.

Day 12 Caye Caulker
Depart at any time.

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The Maldives… what comes to mind with that word? You’ve seen pictures. The bright blue water, the whiter-than-white sandy beaches, the picturesque scenery and the private villas. But, the pictures don’t do The Maldives justice. This tropical nation in the Indian Ocean is composed of 26 ring-shaped atolls, which are made up of more than 1,000 coral islands. Maldivians are esteemed around the World for their hospitality and warmth towards their guests. Luxury Travel to the Maldives is the name of this post and what you can expect when you vacation there.

FYI: The best time to visit the Maldives is from November to April. Consistently sunny year-round, there is a dry season and a wet/rainy season and there are pros and cons to visiting during each of them. With the best, most popular, time to visit being November to April, this is also its busier time. Now, did you know that each resort is on its own private island? So, it may not be the busy “spring break” crowd you may have experienced elsewhere in the world.

Cuisine in the Maldives relies heavily on the region’s available ingredients. f you’re staying at a high-end resort, you will likely have more variety in terms of food, with dining options ranging from Italian and Spanish to Middle Eastern and Asian cuisine. At some properties, you can opt for an all-inclusive rate that covers meals and drinks. If you’re looking for a truly unique experience, consider booking a table at an underwater restaurant. Keep in mind, because the Maldives is an Islamic nation, the population does not drink alcohol. However, you will be able to enjoy alcoholic beverages at most resorts.

The Maldives offers some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world. The amazing coral walls, the mysterious caves and schools of tropical fish so brightly colored, you may look twice to see if it’s real. The water is so warm, you may not need a wetsuit.

If you are seeking relaxation. You are in the right spot. Most of the resorts offer their own on-site spa. Island-sourced ingredients are often used in treatments, such as papaya, seaweed, and pineapple. Keep it basic with a typical massage or choose lush options like citrus hydrating body treatments. The Maldives is also home to the first underwater spa in the world, Huvafen Spa.

Resorts:
Remember, each resort in the Maldives is its own private island. There are over 100 to choose from. So where do you even start? Here, the hotels, some of the world’s most exclusive hotel brands, continually compete with each other to reach attain heights of luxury that will stun you. Personal butlers, private lap pools, in-room massages and pillow menus. Interested? It’s not surprising that honeymooners and those seeking a glamorous “bucket list” tropical getaway have had this country at the top of their wish lists. Did you know there are over 80 hotels that have over-the-water bungalows? Nearly 20 of those offer an all-inclusive plan.

The Lily Beach Resort
On the top of the list. The Lily Beach resort. If you think this resort is for the couple wanting to get away for a romantic holiday, your wrong. This resort also offers family villas, but don’t think for 1 second that that is any less romantic. After all, look at it! There are 4 restaurants and 3 bars. They have what’s called the Platinum Plan. It is their all-inclusive plan that offers an array of quality services, fine dining with premium wine & spirits, unique excursions, and sports activities.

The Soneva Jani Resort
The property is a 40-minute seaplane ride from Male International Airport and 1-hour by speedboat from Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani’s sister resort.
This resort offers over water and island villas. Each water villa opens to its very own stretch of lagoon, a private pool and a retractable roof for stargazing. Some of the villas have slides from the top floor directly into the lagoon below. How fun would that be!
The Soneva Jani Maldives offers a number of dining options and cuisines, as well as the complimentary cheese room, chocolate room and ice-cream room for all guests.

The Four Seasons Resort Maldives 

Located 25-minute “speedboat ride” from Malé International Airport. The white sandy beaches and full-service spa are the perfect destinations. Take advantage of the many recreational amenities, which include 2 outdoor swimming pools, an outdoor tennis court, and a sauna. Don’t forget about the many excursion/tour options. This tranquil piece of paradise offers 96 bungalows. 4 restaurants, 2 lounges or take advantage of the 24hr in-room dining. Buffet breakfasts are also available daily.

Still can’t decide? At Anytime Travel Agency, we are here to help you narrow that down. As a travel agent, it’s our job to ask those unique questions that will help us get a glimpse into what’s important to you. The answers to those questions will help us research and build an itinerary that is tailored to YOU. We want that vision of yours to come true. After all, Building Memories One Vacation at a Time, is what we do.

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