Just Back From: Kenya

TWIL Travel Advisor, Julie law, journeyed across the world to Kenya. What she saw was a roaring place with both commotion and serenity. 

Kenya is the original safari destination where you can see wild animals in wild places. It is a place of colourful tribesmen, pristine beauty, and unparalleled diversity. Here, silver beaches with unspoiled palm and a bustling landscape of wildlife will juxtapose to create a mosaic that will leave you in awe. 

The start of our trip was one to remember. We were welcomed with a dinner feast carving game meats table side like ostrich, crocodile, and camel. This meal paved the way for the nature and journeys we would share as a family for the days to come. 

Nairobi Highlights

•  Carnivore restaurant is a traditional African restaurant owned by the Sarova Brand.  Skewers of meat of all different types (ox balls (for real!), alligator, lamb, beef, chicken etc.  It’s a fun place for all ages.

• Daphne Sheldrick animal orphanage - must do combined with Giraffe centre (next to and part of giraffe manor).  Animal orphanage has public hour from 11-12 daily.  Private tours available outside this time.

Nairobi Accommodations

Sarova Stanley Hotel: We loved this 5 star hotel. Once you enter the high security gates to enter building there is a feeling of safety and warmth.  This hotel is steeped in history.  The staff take great pride in their hotel and will take you on a complimentary ½ hour tour of the hotel to discuss its history.  This is a great 1 or 2-night stopover place. We stayed here 2 nights which enabled us to recuperate after a full night’s travel.  We incorporated a day of touring the Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Centre which was a great start to the trip.  

PROS

•  This hotel steeped in history-colonial feel

•  Warm rich red/gold tones/wood panelled walls throughout hotel

• Beautiful traditional bars

• Service impeccable

• Restaurants, particularly the Thai restaurant excellent

• Rooms spacious, clean, well equipped-connecting rooms and suites available

• Rooftop pool and restaurant/fitness facilities on site

CONS

• Location is in the centre of Nairobi-there are no restaurants to walk to from this location and feeling of uneasiness outside the hotel security gates.  Not safe to wander the streets here.

Fairmont, The Norfolk (Site Tour): My first impression was this hotel was a great stopover place in a quiet location in a more modernized hotel.  Unfortunately, the rooms weren’t up to par but the rest of the building made up for those flaws.  

PROS

•  Peaceful location, situated in a quiet part of the city

•  Caribbean Colonial flair to hotel décor-palm ceiling fans, mahogany wood, white walls

•  Common areas more modernized and newer in appearance

• Rooms a large, centred around a central courtyard (didn’t feel like you were in the heart of Nairobi)

•  Adjoining rooms perfect for families (or for bodyguards- Seriously, that’s how they pitched the rooms!)

• ·     Beautiful wood panelled bar next to lovely tea room

CONS

• Rooms need updating.  They were very tired in appearance

Lewa Highlights

•  Must pay a visit to the Lewa Operations Department which explains how they control poaching, conserve Rhinos and protect the animal population.

• There are 5 properties in the conservancy, all ranging in high level accommodation but different style.

• Brunch in the middle of Mara following game drive.

Lewa Accommodation

Lewa Safari Lodge: I would stay here again in a heart beat.  I am intrigued about visiting the other 5 Lewa properties, particularly Lewa Wilderness and Lewa House.  

I felt like Lewa Safari Camp had a nice balance of luxury and rustic qualities.  The best thing about staying in a Conservancy is that your game drives are more private and personal compared to drives in the Mara.  By the way, I was woken up at 5am to a Lions Roar and watched the sun rise while watching a heard of elephants drinking from the water hole 30 feet away.

 PROS

•  5-hour drive from Nairobi. Lewa also has its own private airstrip

•  This was a lovely property on a private conservancy of 63000 acres of protected land.

•  Conservancy for rhinos, incredible BIG 5 sightings seen here-best thing about conservancy game         

•  Drives are less vehicles and more private game viewing

•  12 Tented Lodges on property

•  Very cool first impression with rugged, organic, authentic, minimalist design

•  Two games drives daily - early morning and early evening

• Rooms-very private-permanent African canvas tented accommodation - nice bathrooms with functional toilet and shower- Wi-Fi in rooms, comfortable bed, screened in with views overlooking plains - beautiful!

• Hairdryers on generator in main area

•  Limited electricity-solar and battery - no power between 11pm-6am (pretty standard)

• Fenced property - safe to wander around freely

• Some tents can be combined for families

• Pool area and beautiful restaurant - rustic luxury

• All inclusive plans - 2 drives per day - excellent guides - options of brunch in the middle of the wild

CONS

• Service pretty slow and lax

• Food is good, not great 

Fairmont Mount Kenya:

I get a feeling that this place was something VERY special a long time ago. It’s the antithesis of a safari experience which might be welcomed to those that want a reprieve from safari life. I personally loved the character of the rooms and the beautifully manicured lawns and gardens but can’t help but feel like I was missing out on an African experience while staying here.

 PROS

• 2-hour drive from Lewa

• Beautiful setting overlooking Mt.Kenya (situated on equator)

• Very colonial feel about property-incredible gardens and landscape

• Rooms have tons of character (all have real fireplaces)

• Family cottages available

• Resort feel and prices of F&B and activities reflects this

• Good place for 1-2-night stopover - all of your luxury items available

• Great for hiking

• Good place for multi-generational families

CONS

• Service here was slow 

• Rooms have character but need some updating - splash of paint on walls/clean furniture would help.  I believe they have plans to refurbish rooms so stay tuned!

Sarova Mara: I was SO impressed with this property.  This is a fantastic place for EVERYONE to stay- young families, teenage families, and multigenerational families are comfortable here.  It’s a great place to stay following a ‘proper’ tented camp experience. The Sarova Hotels have perfected their service skills and is one of the reasons why I would recommend this brand.

PROS

• Located in Largest National Park (Park of Serengeti), the Massai Mara

• Five-star property, in my opinion, when weighing in rooms, F&B and service

• VERY family friendly, small resort style 

• Fenced property and lots of space for children to roam freely

• Many activities for children and teens

• Room (tents) beautiful!  Shocked by the level of cleanliness, space and beautiful décor

• This was a nice property to stay in following a few tented nights with limited Wi-Fi, water and electricity

• Nightly entertainment 

• They have family tents, spa, pool, 2 restaurants, incredible food choice

• 2 game drives daily

• Very affordable

CONS

• Lots of vehicles - can really alter your game viewing experience (not a reflection of hotel)

• Walking safaris, night game drives not allowed in national park

• Must be out of park by 6:30pm

Sarova Spirit, Mara: A very remote location in the Mara with some great game drives but not worth the extra drive to get here. This was my least favourite place.  This hotel with its stark interior and modern design belongs in Miami, not the Mara.Lots of potential, but not there yet. 

 PROS

• Beautiful location, beautiful, well appointed and massive self-contained huts

• Rooms were huge, great for families

• Not a fenced property (has its pros and cons)

• Watering hole nearby attracting animals

• Nice pool 

CONS

• Not a great main communal lounge, bar and restaurant décor-very cold feeling

• F&B service terrible

• Quality of food and drink terrible

• Rooms not cleaned properly

OTHER HOTELS TO CONSIDER IN KENYA

Nairobi: Giraffe Manor, Emakoko, or Sarova Stanley in town

Laikipia (2 hrs from lewa): Kecheche camp  or Borana 

Lewa: Lewa Wilderness, Lewa House, Borana, Lewa Safari Camp

Mara: Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp, Bateleur Camp, Mara Plains Camp, budget: Mara Sarova

TIPS AND INSIDER 

•    Tents:

  •   Different levels of tented accommodations - what differs are exposure to elements, electricity, WiFi, toilets and running water

  •  Level of privacy- many tented camps have communal eating/lounge areas

  • Usually only 5-10 tents on property

  • Luxury tented camps really vary in quality – make sure you know what is included 

  • Fenced vs. unfenced camps:  unfenced means you are vulnerable to animals entering camp - staff on duty all night monitoring animal activity - cannot walk unaccompanied outside after dusk without armed staff.  Can feel scary and claustrophobic.

• Lodges: have a boutique feel-combination between tented camp and resort. All amenities available without sacrificing a rustic ‘tent’ experience

•  Resorts: they are great for the young families - open space to run, organized children’s activities, theme nights, pools, other sport activities, fenced, feeling of having a safety net within a wild environment

• Type of vehicle:  you want an open land cruiser

•  Traffic horrific in Nairobi-took 2 hours to drive 3 miles; should determine where your clients stay overnight if they have an early morning flight

• Nairobi: not a safe place to walk - worth staying 1-2 nights to rejuvenate after a long flight journey

• $50 visa required to enter country 

Just Back From: Family Travel Forum

Members of our TWIL team recently returned from a Family Travel focused conference in Jamaica, where they stayed at the Moon Palace Resort in Ocho Rios and spent their days meeting with family focused suppliers and getting the inside scoop on up-and-coming new resort openings and enhancements.  

Here are some of the key takeaways that our Advisors, Lori Gold and Kim Silvertown learned from their time in Jamaica.

 Jamaica:

• Moon Palace Ocho Rios:Smaller than the one in Mexico, but none the lesser. This resort boasts calm waters on a quaint private beach annexed next to a public beach with local sellers. Some feel that watching the cruise ships pass by is an obstruction, others enjoy its beauty. Family friendly with food to satisfy all palates. 

•  Lady Hamilton at the Grand Palladium: Beautifully modernized space with an excellent Kid’s Club program (3+ if potty trained). 

• Iberostar Rose Hall Suites: Float down the lazy river, slip and slide at the waterpark, and get cozy with comfortable suites offering pull out sofas and guaranteed connecting rooms. 

•  The Finest: Opening in 2020/2021, this all-inclusive will host unbeatable service on a luxurious property.

Mexico:

• Sandos Caracol: Freshly renovated standard rooms are now reimagined as Eco rooms. 85% complete. 

•  Sandos Playacar: Kids only waterpark makes this resort a family vacation winner.

•  Sandos Palm Bay: Opening April 12th, this stunning resort is beyond deluxe – all rooms are oceanfront. 

• Hotel X-Caret: Plenty of connecting rooms make this property family friendly. But, if you are looking for a peaceful retreat, the brand new adults only Casa de le Playa is opening in December. Here, you will stay in a room with an ocean view and access all pools with serene views. The X-Caret is opening a new park at Xoximilco called Xavage in March – we look forward to the reveal. 

Punta Cana: 

• Lopesan Resort Punta Cana: This brand new chain (existent only in Europe) is opening in May. It will be a luxury experience that is unparalleled.  Lush greenery, white sand beaches, and turquoise waters come together to create a one of a kind experience. With six freshwater swimming pools, including a two-tiered infinity pool, a kids pool, an adult only area with futons, hammocks, and balinese beds, this resort has a place to unwind for anyone. The Lopesan also hosts The Boulevard: a large entertainment space for all ages equipped with a casino, wellness centre, discotheque, bowling alleys, kids and teens facilities, and shops. 

• Grand Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real: Grand opening of new luxury section with a waterpark. Welcome to play at all three resorts. Separate Kid’s Club age segments: 1-4, 4-12, and teens. 

•  Melia Caribe: Opening a new waterpark Feb 19 and all newly renovate. 

Bahamas:

• The Atlantis-Reef renovation is well underway and the Royal Tower will be beginning its makeover this year. The rest of the resort is completely revised.

Bermuda: 

• Exciting additions in Bermuda: they are opening a new airport, a St. Regis, and a Ritz Carlton Reserve in 2020. Tourists cannot rent cars, only Twizzles – electric vehicle.  

Antigua:

• The beautifully polished Blue Waters in Antigua has 3, 4, and 5 bedroom villas in an all inclusive luxury space. 

Travel Well! 

Lori & Kim.  

Just Back From: Halkidiki, Greece

One of our TWIL agents, Ilana Prussky, visited Greece in October and here is what she has to say:

First Stop: Ikos Olivia: Luxury All-inclusive Resort 
Getting There: The closest airport is Thessaloniki. It is approximately 50 minutes to the resort. 
Who is it for? Ikos Olivia is perfect for family travel. Whether it is a family with young children or a multigenerational family, Ikos is the perfect spot for you.

Our Take:
Ikos has positioned itself as redefining what a luxury all inclusive is. I can truly say that when you are at Ikos you do not feel like you are in your typical Caribbean all inclusive - it has a boutique resort feel with amazing service. I arrived at Ikos at night and immediately I was able to see that it would be a special place. Ikos has many different restaurants on property as well as all the other amenities you would expect out of a 5-star hotel.

• There are over 4 pools and a variety of accommodation styles. They have your standard guestrooms in the main lobby tower, and then they have many options of bungalows. Bungalows range from one- and two-bedrooms suites either with garden view, pool view and ocean view. Ikos is split up into the standard rooms and bungalows and the deluxe bungalows. The deluxe bungalows have a few more special touches, however the main difference is the deluxe section has its own pool and private beach section. 

• Something special about Ikos is the childrens program. Every parent I spoke to raved about the kids program, whether they had a young toddler or a teenager. They have basketball, soccer, volleyball, bike rentals and many more activities to enjoy.

• The breakfast buffet was plentiful ranging from omelette bars to crepe making, all the best Greece dishes as well as the classic American cuisine.

• A highlight of my stay at Ikos would be the Wine Tasting. It is included in the Ikos All inclusive experience and is well run by a sommelier.

Second Stop: Sani Luxury Resort (four main resort options)
Getting There: The closest airport is Thessaloniki. It is approximately 50 minutes to the resort. 

1. Porto Sani: 
   Who is it for: Families 
   Must know: Porto Sani does not have a beach! That said, it has many pools, and tons of availability for seating. It is made up of bungalow style accommodations ranging in size. The furniture is more traditional and dated. 

2. Sani Asterias: 
   Who is it for: Couples or Families 
   Must know: Sani Asterias is the smallest of all the Sanis. Asterias would be the highest end property, which is portrayed in the level of service and the décor. The property is quite small, it is a short walk from the rooms to the pools. There are only two treatment rooms, so reserve at your time of booking! 

3. Sani Club: 
   Who is it for: Families with young children 
   Must Know: All the properties on Sani Resort are located within walking distance of each other except for Sani Club. Sani Club is located approximately 5 minutes by shuttle from the rest of the resort. Sani club is filled with children and is perfect for multi-gen. It is important to note that Sani Club is huge! Going from your room to breakfast to the beach is not walkable! You must call a golf cart every time you want to go somewhere, and there are always golf carts around to take people places. Sani Club is also located on a hill - it makes for the most unbelievable views - however, it makes getting around challenging.

4. Sani Dunes: 
   Who is it for: Families with older children or couples 
   Must know: Sani Dunes is my favorite of all the Sani Resort properties. The rooms are bungalow style - they are stunning. The beach club at Dunes is the place to be. It is absolutely stunning. The lobby is grand, and has a delicious restaurant, called “The Market.”

Our Take: 
Sani Resort is a five-star resort located in Halkidiki. It is split up into 5 different resorts, sharing common spaces, restaurants, as well as a marina. Sani Resort is made up of: Sani Club, Sani Beach, Sani Dunes, Sani Asterias & Porto Sani. Each resort is run completely on their one. Sani Marina is made up of a teens club, a ton of restaurants, shopping and more. Once you are at Sani, you truly never need to leave. The different resorts at Sani are perfect for different types of travellers. 

Halkidiki is postcard perfect for any occasion.