The Sixth Annual Anderson Vacations Barefoot Escape was a rousing success this past June as more than 60 guests enjoyed a week in the sun at the deluxe Gran Bahia Principe Coba resort along the Mexican Caribbean. The week kicked off with a champagne welcome reception where the Barefoot guests toasted to friends old and new and looked forward to a wonderful week in paradise.
The Gran Bahia served as the perfect backdrop for the week's events and mother nature cooperated with a glorious sun-kissed weather week. Guest accommodations featured spacious junior suites with king or double beds located around the Coba resorts' quiet pool. And with multiple pools, a wide choice of delicious restaurants, lounges and bars spread throughout the resort and a beautiful white sand beach, there was always something to entertain the Barefoot crew.
As is the case during every Barefoot Escape, Anderson Vacations hosted a couple of exclusive excursions for the group. On Monday everyone enjoyed a four hour private catamaran cruise aboard the 65 foot catamaran Catamaya. After a snorkeling stop at a crystal clear off-shore reef, a grilled lunch was served along with an open bar as the Catamaya sailed back to shore with the sun setting over the Yucatan Peninsula.
On Wednesday the group returned for the second consecutive year to the Garden of Eden cenote, a natural underground spring that featured cliff jumping and snorkeling in this pristine jungle watering hole. Following the morning visit, the Barefoot crew headed down the coast to the beautiful coastal town of Tulum. Here, guests strolled along one of the most spectacular beaches in the world as they dined at some of the best beachfront restaurants along the Riviera Maya.
As is the case with every Barefoot Escape, new and lasting friends were made and old friendships were renewed during the week in paradise. And as everyone said goodbye after a memorable week many vowed to meet once again during next year's Seventh Barefoot Escape. Stay tuned for details.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Friday, February 17, 2012
Annual Barefoot Escape Right Around the Corner
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The Grand Palladium Riviera Maya |
Located along the Mayan Riviera, south of Playa del Carmen, Grand Palladium is perfectly located for an excursion to the many wonderful attractions in this region of Mexico. Those include the Mayan Ruins of Tulum, the ecological water park Xel-Ha and the seaside town of Akumal.
If you haven't decided on whether to join us this June, what are you waiting for? Space is still available at a reasonable price. And packages can be arranged from any U.S. gateway. We hope to see you there.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Benefitting Those in Need Through Travel
As a member of the Central Texas business community, we at Anderson Vacations are committed to giving back to those local organizations who are making a difference in the lives of our citizens. Part of that commitment is our contribution to the area’s charitable and non-profit agencies through an innovative program we have developed to help these groups with critical fund raising needs.
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The program works quite simply. When a client makes a booking with Anderson Vacations they have the option of tagging that booking with the non-profit group of their choice. Once their travel is completed Anderson Vacations will send a contribution letter along with a check to the non-profit totaling 10% of Anderson Vacations' profits from that vacation.
In addition to providing funds through individual travel, Anderson Vacations also encourages the formation of group travel programs, which increases the donation to the non-profit organization several fold. For example, our Anderson Vacations Fundraisers at Sea program utilizes the major cruise lines’ group incentive programs for the benefit of our non-profit clients, resulting in a powerful fundraising tool. Moreover, our agency can assist with the development and marketing of these travel groups so that, in the end, the group is successful in its goal of raising significant dollars.
The Travel for a Cause program is not limited to charities in Central Texas. Since Anderson Vacations has clients throughout the country, donations can be made to any qualifying non-profit nation-wide.
The Travel for a Cause program is not limited to charities in Central Texas. Since Anderson Vacations has clients throughout the country, donations can be made to any qualifying non-profit nation-wide.
If you feel your agency could benefit from the Travel for a Cause program please feel free to contact Anderson Vacations for a personalized review and discover this innovative and simple way to benefit your cause through the joy of travel.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Carnival Adds Some Magic to the Port of Galveston
The Carnival Magic has arrived in Galveston, Texas ! The 130,000 ton fun ship made its inaugural voyage on November 14th and will make Galveston her year round home, offering seven day voyages to the Western and Eastern Caribbean.
The arrival of Carnival Magic was celebrated with a day of festivities on board. Superstar rock band Maroon 5 held a private concert pierside while thousands of travel agents and VIP guests enjoyed an overnight stay aboard the megaship. Guests were given a glimpse of life on board the Carnival Magic, complete with delicious food, attentive and friendly service and exceptional entertainment.
The arrival of Carnival Magic represents a victory for the Port of Galveston and the Texas area cruise market. The decision by Carnival to homeport its newest and biggest luxury funship in Galveston is a testament to the future growth of cruising in the region. Now, cruisers within driving distance to Galveston can board one of the most modern cruise ships in the world without having to board a plane and deal with the hassles of airline travel.
The spectacular Carnival Magic epitomizes the continued evolution of Carnival's "fun ship" vacation experience with new innovations such as the RedFrog Pub, a Caribbean-inspired watering hole, Cucina del Capitano, a family-style Italian Restaurant that celebrates the line's Italian heritage, and a host of open-air facilities and features, including a massive water park and outdoor recreation area offering the cruise industry's first ropes course.
Staterooms aboard Magic also offer plenty of variety for cruisers. These include cove balcony staterooms located closer to the water line, spa staterooms that provide special access for its guests to the Cloud 9 Spa facilities and large family cabins that can accommodate families of five.
Carnival's award-winning Camp Carnival program is also taken to a new level aboard Magic. The 5,000 square foot facility serves as the headquarters for children from ages 2 - 11, split between three age specific categories. Then there is "Circle C", a dedicated area for 12-15 year-olds, and finally Club O2 for teens 15-17. All in all, children and teens will be treated like Royalty aboard Magic.
Carnival Magic is the perfect vacation option for any occasion. Both families and couples will enjoy the varied options available on board. And the Magic is perfect for groups of any size and theme. Weddings, family reunions and corporate groups will all find this latest Carnival fun-ship the ultimate vacation getaway.
The arrival of Carnival Magic was celebrated with a day of festivities on board. Superstar rock band Maroon 5 held a private concert pierside while thousands of travel agents and VIP guests enjoyed an overnight stay aboard the megaship. Guests were given a glimpse of life on board the Carnival Magic, complete with delicious food, attentive and friendly service and exceptional entertainment.
The arrival of Carnival Magic represents a victory for the Port of Galveston and the Texas area cruise market. The decision by Carnival to homeport its newest and biggest luxury funship in Galveston is a testament to the future growth of cruising in the region. Now, cruisers within driving distance to Galveston can board one of the most modern cruise ships in the world without having to board a plane and deal with the hassles of airline travel.
The spectacular Carnival Magic epitomizes the continued evolution of Carnival's "fun ship" vacation experience with new innovations such as the RedFrog Pub, a Caribbean-inspired watering hole, Cucina del Capitano, a family-style Italian Restaurant that celebrates the line's Italian heritage, and a host of open-air facilities and features, including a massive water park and outdoor recreation area offering the cruise industry's first ropes course.
Staterooms aboard Magic also offer plenty of variety for cruisers. These include cove balcony staterooms located closer to the water line, spa staterooms that provide special access for its guests to the Cloud 9 Spa facilities and large family cabins that can accommodate families of five.
Carnival's award-winning Camp Carnival program is also taken to a new level aboard Magic. The 5,000 square foot facility serves as the headquarters for children from ages 2 - 11, split between three age specific categories. Then there is "Circle C", a dedicated area for 12-15 year-olds, and finally Club O2 for teens 15-17. All in all, children and teens will be treated like Royalty aboard Magic.
Carnival Magic is the perfect vacation option for any occasion. Both families and couples will enjoy the varied options available on board. And the Magic is perfect for groups of any size and theme. Weddings, family reunions and corporate groups will all find this latest Carnival fun-ship the ultimate vacation getaway.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Deluxe Grand Palladium Riviera Maya to Host Fifth Annual Anderson Vacations Barefoot Escape
Anderson Vacations is excited to announce that the deluxe Grand Palladium Riviera Maya all-inclusive resort will be the site of our Fifth Annual Anderson Vacations Barefoot Escape next summer. Palladium Resorts in the Riviera Maya offers a unique blend of luxury resort amenities combined with an eco-friendly atmosphere that respects the beautiful natural surroundings of the Mexican Caribbean coastline.
Grand Palladium Riviera Maya actually consists of four sister resorts, which all combined create a very large resort complex that stretches along the coast. Our guests will have access to all four resorts, including seven pools, 12 restaurants, over 20 bars and lounges and of course, a spectacular white sand beach.
Some of the unique features of Grand Palladium include a man-made lake that winds its way through the resort offering pontoon boat tours, all junior suite accommodations that can accommodate up to a family of five and a saltwater pool that is connected to the ocean, offering the opportunity to view sea life up close.
Grand Palladium is located near the resort town of Akumal, south of Playa del Carmen. The location affords guests easy access to area attractions such as the mayan ruins of Tulum and the ecological water park Xel-Ha. The town of Akumal itself is a great place to snorkel or just enjoy a relaxing lunch at one of its laid-back beach restaurants.
Barefoot Escape guests will enjoy a complete package including round trip air transportation from any U.S. gateway, transportation from Cancun Airport to the resort and back, deluxe junior suite accommodations, all meals and drinks, water sports and entertainment.
So block off the dates of June 28 - July 6 and make sure you join us on this our fifth escape to Mexico. It is sure to be the biggest and best Barefoot Escape yet.
Grand Palladium Riviera Maya actually consists of four sister resorts, which all combined create a very large resort complex that stretches along the coast. Our guests will have access to all four resorts, including seven pools, 12 restaurants, over 20 bars and lounges and of course, a spectacular white sand beach.
Some of the unique features of Grand Palladium include a man-made lake that winds its way through the resort offering pontoon boat tours, all junior suite accommodations that can accommodate up to a family of five and a saltwater pool that is connected to the ocean, offering the opportunity to view sea life up close.
Grand Palladium is located near the resort town of Akumal, south of Playa del Carmen. The location affords guests easy access to area attractions such as the mayan ruins of Tulum and the ecological water park Xel-Ha. The town of Akumal itself is a great place to snorkel or just enjoy a relaxing lunch at one of its laid-back beach restaurants.
Barefoot Escape guests will enjoy a complete package including round trip air transportation from any U.S. gateway, transportation from Cancun Airport to the resort and back, deluxe junior suite accommodations, all meals and drinks, water sports and entertainment.
So block off the dates of June 28 - July 6 and make sure you join us on this our fifth escape to Mexico. It is sure to be the biggest and best Barefoot Escape yet.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Date for Fifth Annual Barefoot Escape Announced
Fresh off the heals of our very successful Fourth Annual Anderson Vacations Barefoot Escape, we are excited to release the dates for next year's fifth annual trip. Block your calendars now for the dates of June 29th through July 6th. In celebration of our fifth year, next year's escape promises to be the biggest and best trip yet. We'll be pulling out all the stops to make sure all our escapees will be talking about next year's trip for years to come. For those who have joined us in the past, we invite you to return with us again for a week of sun and fun. If you've never been on one of our escapes, you couldn't pick a better year to meet us in paradise. Where will next year's trip be held? Stay tuned to our blog and Facebook page for upcoming details.We can't wait to share the news with you soon.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Cozumel Provides Spectacular Backdrop for Fourth Annual Anderson Vacations Barefoot Escape
The fourth annual Anderson Vacations Barefoot Escape is now in the books. This year's escapees enjoyed a magnificent week at the Iberostar Cozumel on the southwest coast of the Caribbean island from June 23 - July 1.
Upon arrival in Cozumel our guests were whisked to the resort by our friends at Lomas Travel and greeted by Carl and Linda Anderson as they arrived at Iberostar. After a quick check-in and a couple of welcome drinks it was off to our wonderful ocean front rooms. We all had great locations for our rooms this year, just a quick barefoot walk on the sand to either the beach or the large swimming pool. Each room was located in an eight-room bungalow set within a tropical paradise. The second floor rooms featured a large deck, complete with a hammock for enjoying the ocean views.
For the divers in the group, the location couldn't have been better. Some of the best reefs in the world sit only minutes from the resort's coastline. And our divers took full advantage of the location, enjoying several days of diving throughout the week. For the non-divers in the group, plenty of sea life could be enjoyed directly in front of the Iberostar with just a snorkel, mask and fins.
Iberostar's entertainment staff, The Star Friends, kept our group smiling all week with crazy pool games, beach volleyball, yoga, dance lessons and evening shows. In fact, the entire staff of Iberostar could not have been more welcoming and gracious. From the waiters in the restaurants, to the bartenders at the pool bar, to the maids who cleaned our rooms, we were all treated to wonderful Mexican hospitality that we have become accustomed to in all of our previous trips to Mexico.
Two of the highlights of the week were our hosted excursions. On Tuesday our group boarded a couple of large vans for an island tour that included stops at some of Cozumel's most famous watering holes. On the east side of the island we stopped at the aptly named Rasta Bar with its Bob Marley and reggae theme. Then it was on to world famous Coconuts, with its carefree vibe and spectacular views of the east coast of the island. Finally, we landed in downtown San Miguel which offered our guests the opportunity to shop and have a margarita at the popular Wet Wendy's bar.
Our second excursion on Wednesday featured a private sailing adventure on the Tucan Catmaran. The 35 foot vessel's crew hosted us on a 7 hour journey to a private beach on the northern coast of the island. Along the way, we stopped for spinnaker rides and snorkeling. The crew also fixed a wonderful fajita lunch while serving cocktails throughout the sail. A big "thank you" to Captain Dan and his wife Karen, owners of the Tucan who made our day special.
As always, the most memorable times we spend on our yearly trips are the special moments with friends, some who we only see once a year. It's the conversations at the pool bar, sharing some laughs over dinner and watching our children having the time of their lives that we always take back with us each year.
Thank you to all of this year's escapees for joining us. The planning for next year's escape starts now. We can't wait to host you once again and to welcome some new friends in 2012.
Upon arrival in Cozumel our guests were whisked to the resort by our friends at Lomas Travel and greeted by Carl and Linda Anderson as they arrived at Iberostar. After a quick check-in and a couple of welcome drinks it was off to our wonderful ocean front rooms. We all had great locations for our rooms this year, just a quick barefoot walk on the sand to either the beach or the large swimming pool. Each room was located in an eight-room bungalow set within a tropical paradise. The second floor rooms featured a large deck, complete with a hammock for enjoying the ocean views.
For the divers in the group, the location couldn't have been better. Some of the best reefs in the world sit only minutes from the resort's coastline. And our divers took full advantage of the location, enjoying several days of diving throughout the week. For the non-divers in the group, plenty of sea life could be enjoyed directly in front of the Iberostar with just a snorkel, mask and fins.
Iberostar's entertainment staff, The Star Friends, kept our group smiling all week with crazy pool games, beach volleyball, yoga, dance lessons and evening shows. In fact, the entire staff of Iberostar could not have been more welcoming and gracious. From the waiters in the restaurants, to the bartenders at the pool bar, to the maids who cleaned our rooms, we were all treated to wonderful Mexican hospitality that we have become accustomed to in all of our previous trips to Mexico.
Two of the highlights of the week were our hosted excursions. On Tuesday our group boarded a couple of large vans for an island tour that included stops at some of Cozumel's most famous watering holes. On the east side of the island we stopped at the aptly named Rasta Bar with its Bob Marley and reggae theme. Then it was on to world famous Coconuts, with its carefree vibe and spectacular views of the east coast of the island. Finally, we landed in downtown San Miguel which offered our guests the opportunity to shop and have a margarita at the popular Wet Wendy's bar.
Our second excursion on Wednesday featured a private sailing adventure on the Tucan Catmaran. The 35 foot vessel's crew hosted us on a 7 hour journey to a private beach on the northern coast of the island. Along the way, we stopped for spinnaker rides and snorkeling. The crew also fixed a wonderful fajita lunch while serving cocktails throughout the sail. A big "thank you" to Captain Dan and his wife Karen, owners of the Tucan who made our day special.
As always, the most memorable times we spend on our yearly trips are the special moments with friends, some who we only see once a year. It's the conversations at the pool bar, sharing some laughs over dinner and watching our children having the time of their lives that we always take back with us each year.
Thank you to all of this year's escapees for joining us. The planning for next year's escape starts now. We can't wait to host you once again and to welcome some new friends in 2012.
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