Hi Tennille!!  How are you? I am glad to hear from you as I can now write and tell you about my amazing adventure in Europe!!  My cycling tour was fantastic...not quite what I had expected....average age of the group was 55...but what a group...so much fun!!  And they really took me under their wing as I was the only solo traveler.  The views were incredible....the hills were challenging...but the pubs made everything alright!  I loved all the live music!  I have now been back in the city for a few months..it took sometime getting used to being back...I was away for just under six weeks....
I got some pretty amazing news yesterday...I was offered We Will Rock You!!  I start rehearsals on Jan 5th!!
Hope this finds you well! Happy Holidays! 
- Kara
 

Trip of a lifetime, an awesome adventure and I made a bunch of new friends!!! Athena, my roommate from Vancouver was the best! I am going to organize my trip photos and I journalled each day in the next week or so. I will include your email in my friends list as I will send a day by day ‘highlights’. 

Thanks so much !
-Kelle K.

"The trip was great. Thank you so much. I had a wonderful time and I really enjoyed it. I met many  friends"
 - Athena L.
 

Hello MMA Travel Staff,

How are you doing? 

The weather was great down in Utila as we only had one day with rain.  This was quite an adventure as this being my first ever dive trip, I didn't quite know what to expect.  Arriving 2 hours late in Roatan on Westjet (thanks for finding me a direct flight) I was greeted by a man named Winston who knew I was coming to the islands and took my luggage to the check-in counter.  Seems like security is a little relaxed down there and I met our pilot Alberto at this time.  They said I could wait in the waiting room.  I didn't know the others joining me until I met Yian when another lady (a local) asked if anyone else was going to Utilia.  And we replied saying we were and then asked if she was part of MMA and she wasn't.  Cathy and Joanne had not arrived yet in the waiting area for another hour or so.  We made it to the tiny island on a twin prop plane and started to get to know and understand each other.  As I have never done any diving trips in the past or vacations alone, I was the novice in the bunch not sure if I was the youngest though as I never ask for ages.  I was a little reluctant to go when I found out this was just 4 of us and I would be the only male, but they turned out to be an amazing group of ladies to vacation and dive with.



I think we had some great dives in the ocean.  Even though we didn't see any turtles, sharks, barracudas, big rays or the popular whale shark, there were always things to see on these dives.  Like I said I have never dove in the tropics and to me anything would be better than the dives I have already under my belt.  Diving in a lake for my checkout dives, any fish or coral would be better than silt and wrecks.  We did make 3 dives for the 5 days but as we were flying out the next day, the last day we only did one.  There were two highlights for me during our dive trip 1) was a massive wall of fish that swam by us twice and 2) was being able to snorkel with some wild dolphins (for a brief moment) on the way to our first dive on Friday.  The dive shop did an amazing job, and everyone involved were professional and a pleasure to dive with. 


The island was a nice quiet and laid back community where the locals and the tourists didn't have any problems.  The Mango Inn had nice and clean accommodations.  The insects had buffets on our behalf.  The water was a consistent 79-80 degrees while the sun cooperated so those who wanted to get some colour got it.  So all in all this was a great trip for me, as I met some really nice people and was able to get a couple more dives under my belt in a warm and safe location.

Some advice which you can mention to future travellers to this location/vacation:
- traveller's cheques should be avoided (most places I tried would not take them, even the two banks on the island)
- the last day should not include dives
- island hours are in effect (business hours do change from day to day)
- bring lots and lots of bug spray
- try at least one pizza at the Mango Inn, they is delicious and filling

Thanks to all for making this an enjoyable and memorable vacation.
-Mike W.

Pictures courtesy Joanne L.
 

Club Med - Turkoise was WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!  I exercised every morning, went swimming in the pool and ocean, went snorkeling and yes, did the trapeze (very exhilarating) and met lots of great people.

Comments about resort:
My context:  a road warrior who has stayed and traveled a lot, primarily for business

Club Med accommodations are Spartan.  Lots of activities though and this is wonderful as the choice is excellent....power walk, step classes, body sculpting, aqua fit, sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving (the only activity you have to pay for ), windsurfing, and yes the trapeze.  The GO's are wonderful, very enthusiastic and I don't know how they manage this degree of enthusiasm week to week.  Customer service is excellent - they even come to meet and greet you upon arrival and likewise on departure with a big wave, refreshing face cloths and beverages (juice and some interesting cocktails).

Food is great!  The selection is fabulous...whether you're a meat, fish or vegetarian person there is more than enough to eat and the quality is very high.  No shortage of alcohol....every kind of cocktail imaginable and people who really know their drinks told me they were surprised they served Grey Goose vodka (apparently, this is very good).  Get this...for mimosa's it's OJ + Moet and Chandon champagne (no plonk at this place).  Personally, the wine (red, white and rose was very mediocre)....but wow, there is no shortage of any kind of drink.

There's a new chef du village...very personable and very very on top of what is going on.  He mentioned this location might convert to a family resort in two years...however the consensus among the guests I spoke to...leave it adult only.  Approximately 500 guests which represented about 90% occupancy for them. The roommate thing worked...the first two nights all the roommate said to me was hello....oh well.  Next two nights no roommate and then for the balance of the trip had a great roommate..very energetic, positive personality....The guests are well adjusted, mainly extroverts...and very easy to socialize with anyone and everyone.  Guests primarily from US Northeast (Boston, New York) and then from various points in the US and lots of Quebecois and then some of us from the Toronto area.  Age distribution...pretty much 35 - 50, with perhaps 10% being older...there were in fact two great ladies in their 70's...real pistols...true joie de vivre...

The location is beautiful and the water is turquoise...really stunning.
Would I go back?...absolutely!!!
That's my two cents. 

Thanks again!
HP
 

Hi Tennille, Yes I had a wonderful time at Club Med, Turks and Caicos...I met many wonderful people and experienced so many fun activities...I would go back in a second...I hope to book with you again...Thank you. 

Ann M.