Valentine’s Day is coming. Some of the travel experts most romantic spots…

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1. Amalfi Coast, Italy
Renown for its picturesque towns, turquoise waters and confetti-hued houses, the historical charm of this region will definitely get you buzzed off life. That, and four glasses of vino.

Check out: Sea Gem boats at Casa Angelina Hotel

2. Maldives
Float over endless infinity pools and indulge your inner water-baby with an afternoon of wakeboarding and snorkeling. Perfect for an unforgettable honeymoon. That is, if powder white sand, coconut trees and basking in 24-karat sunshine is your kind-of thing.

Check out: Underwater spa at Huvafen Fushi

3. Costa-Rica, Central America
Nothing like a good adrenaline rush to get your heart pumping, literally. Glide through the lush Costa Rican rainforests by day, and unwind in a volcanically heated hot spring by night.

Check out: Beach horseback riding at Hotel Punta Islita

4. Bali, Indonesia
Get your Eat, Pray, Love on in this culturally rich island. Enjoy a romantic sunrise at Sanur, sip fresh coconuts beachside, and work your haggling skills at the art market. Afterwards, retire to a relaxing natural spa treatment back at your private villa. Paradise.

Check out: Floating Chapels at Conrad Bali

5. Tibet, China
Tucked away between sky-scraping peaks crowned by ivory clouds, Tibet is a hidden romantic gem. Rekindle your lust in this mysterious city and partake in an adventure of a lifetime.

Check out: Meditation Garden at The St. Regis Lhasa Resort

6. Mauritius
Palm tree-lined beaches. Vibrant virgin forests. Exotic fruit tree orchards. With a cocktail in your hand and sega music ringing in your ears, this slice of paradise is sure to charm your heart.

Check out: Beachside dining at The Oberoi

7. Santorini, Greece
If whitewashed villas, free-flowing infinity pools and breathtaking volcano views is up your alley, then island hop over to Santorini. Dress up in your nautical blues and whites and spend the day sailing the Aegean Sea.

Check out: Secret wine cave at Mystique

8. Lake Louise, Alberta
Make like snow bunnies and enjoy some of the best powder skiing in the world. Or, cuddle up with your beau on a romantic sleigh ride through the alpine woods around Lake Louise’s emerald glacial waters. Cold hands, warm heart, right.

Check out: Rustic log cottages at Post Hotel & Spa

9. Tasmania, Australia
Head Down Under to the Natural State where you can heat things up at the Bay of Fires, then get your wine on and explore the island’s charming vineyards.

Check out: Helicopter dining tour at Saffire Freycinet

10. Provence, France
There is no better place to whisper “tu es ma joie de vivre” in the ear of your lover than in the town of sloping vineyards, dramatic sunflowers and nodding lavender fields. This town is so romantic, it once sparked the flame in artists such as Cezanne, Van Gogh and Chagall. While your trip may not inspire you to paint a masterpiece, it will surely leave you wooed.

Check out: French cooking classes at La Mirande

Breezes Negril (formerly Grand Lido).

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Grand Lido Negril – A review
By Sue McGarvie and Blaik Spratt
Clinical Sex Therapists, Syndicated Talk Show Host, and Authors of The Ethical Hedonist

We’ve both had a few friends who decided to skip the big production and head down south to get married. No seating arrangements to organize, no huge expense of feeding extended relations, and no church ceremony for couples who have rarely darkened a church door. Getting married in a simple ceremony on a beach (whether you elope or drag immediate family down with you) has the advantages of having your honeymoon start immediately, and enjoying the breathtaking view of turquoise water, lush vegetation, and a sunset of pinks and purples that beat any kind of man-made decorations.

Most resorts in the Caribbean offer weddings – usually under a simple trellis overlooking the water. Sometimes they are set apart from the rest of the resort, but we’ve found many are wedged between the jet skis screaming in the background, and beach walkers tromping by. We know because we’ve accidently stumbled by a few beach weddings in the search for interesting seashells. Oops. This trip we saw four beautiful weddings far at a distance, in the wedding cabana at Grand Lido Negril over the time we were there, (and later having run into three of those brides who raved about their ceremonies). Although sold as an upscale Superclub concept, it seemed that Grand Lido is also a perfect venue for elegant and romantic weddings.

Grand Lido is a majestic resort on one end of Negril’s famous seven mile beach of white sand. The resort reminded us of one of those perfectly turned out southern ladies – well appointed, gracious, classic, and understated. Laid back with a traditional style, young couples (and parents, even grand-parents coming for a holiday or attending a wedding) will appreciate the quiet refinement of the grounds, sumptuousness of the food, and sophistication of the other guests.

Given all polish that is Grand Lido Negril, (and classic elegance really are the words we would use to describe it) what’s really interesting about Lido is its slightly flirty feel. Between the oversized drinks, the activity staff that greet you with a wink and a smile, and the fact that half the resort is clothing optional (yup, they have a nude beach), Lido feels decidedly grown up. We met a number of people who had been coming to Grand Lido for decades, loving its mix of relaxation and discernment. Many of them had started on the huge regular beach, and had migrated to taking off their wet, sandy and uncomfortable suits over the years. And as we said before, taking your bathing suit off is the second hardest thing you’ll do on vacation. The hardest thing is putting it back on. The resort didn’t have a sexual feel, just a relaxed openness about it that was nonchalant and accepting. Many had made great friends over the years as clothing optional bars, pools and hot tubs lend themselves well to starting conversations with strangers. Nudity really does lend itself to openness.

Terrific staff was mentioned again and again as the reason guests returned for an annual trek to western Jamaica. Without fail we experienced very friendly, relaxed hospitality, and the staff seemed kind and long serving. And the good service isn’t artificially enticed. Tipping at any of the Superclubs is simply not allowed, and so with the exception of paid catamaran “booze cruises” and European spa service, you don’t spend any money. The spa seemed busy (due to a plenary of weddings), and offered a variety of services at comparable prices.

We had a fantastic meal in the Japanese restaurant – which was fun and inclusive with eight to a table. They were sensitive to food allergies, and the food was varied and plentiful. The service at the French restaurant was great, although we found the food mediocre with some good dishes and some not-so-great ones. We did however enjoy the live piano dinner music that accompanied the food. During the day, we ate jerk chicken at the poolside Jamaican restaurant and it was notably tasty.

Evenings (after dinner in one of the five restaurants), a band played up-tempo reggae dance music. One of things we really loved about Jamaica was the music everywhere. All the Jamaicans moved beautifully (wish we could dance half as well), and even the lowly house bands are head and shoulders above the mediocre music played at resorts anywhere else we’ve travelled. Grand Lido is not really known for it’s nightlife (the resort is usually quiet by 10:30), but it is literally across the road from the notorious Hedonism ll resort, where you can get a night pass to see the shows, piano bar, and dancing if you are looking for more action. Lido is about relaxation, romance and fine dining, and you may be disappointed if you expect a lot more in the way of serious night life. The nights we visited the piano bar there was only guest karaoke (we couldn’t take the Tammy Wynette “Stand by Your Man” cover and left after one song), but found sitting in the hot tub with the cognac and cookies they had left in the rooms a much more typical Lido late night experience.

The thing we need to note about Grand Lido Negil, (besides the nude pool- smile) was the physical location. Lido is set on a spectacular coastline. The turquoise water that stays shallow for a good distance offers world-class snorkeling right off the beach, which can be hard to find at a resort of Lido’s quality. We saw hundreds of multi-colored fish, rays, beautiful fan coral, and even an octopus within sight of the resort. Sailing, sea kayaking, separate reef snorkeling and scuba boat trips are offered daily. We had an easy walk up the beach for a good hour of soft sand and shoreline, which was as romantic a stroll as we’ve had anywhere. Security guards are stationed at the entrance to each resort along the way and we felt completely safe, and were able to walk drink in hand.

There are a few interesting things about Grand Lido Negril that are worth mentioning. A plaque at the bar at the far end of the resort says it is home “far bar” to the band Little Feat (can you say “Be my Dixie Chicken?”) and their fans who are compared to deadheads (legions of the Grateful Dead band) for their dedication to attending hundreds of concerts. The Feats appear at Grand Lido every February and pay homage to the bartenders and hospitality of Lido as well. Grand Lido also used to have a 147-foot M/Y Zein, a luxury power yacht that was originally presented as a wedding gift to Princess Grace and Prince Rainier by Aristotle Onassis that took guests out on sunset cruises. A number of the guests we spoke to remembered it, and said it symbolized the kind of resort it was, and the honeymoon atmosphere of the place. Unfortunately it was sold as the yacht became a bit leaky and tired at the end of her life. But that majestic “Grand old Dame hotel” feel still lingers about the place. And they probably have one of the coolest trees in the middle of the property that we’ve ever seen. It is a 100 plus year old cottonwood tree that is so statuesque, and so magnificent, that it looks like a Disney caricature of what a tree should look like. And it makes a one-of-a-kind place for wedding pictures.

The casual elegance of the place really lends itself to the dress code. A bathing suit, a wrap (that turns into what Blaik calls “his man skirt”), good sun hat, fitness clothes, and a couple of evening dinner outfits, (maybe even less if you don’t go off the nude side during the day) is really all you need. We didn’t see people getting all dolled up for breakfast, and since we travel in Tilley adventure clothes (the most amazing clothes that let you wash them wearing them in the shower), they took up from excursions, to dancing, and travel. We went to the French restaurant Le Piacere for dinner with another couple from Ontario and the guys needed dinner jackets. Blaik shook out his travel Tilley blazer from the bottom of his suitcase and was complimented on his dapper look. Check us out standing in near the cool Lido tree.

They offer a decent gym (the one at Hedonism across the street however, is four times the size) and may be worth checking out if you are a serious fitness buff. Grand Lido has a tennis court and they claim they have a PGA rated course up the road that free to use for guests, but we never saw anyone playing tennis or golfing. Everyone was mesmerized by the ocean and there was lots of floating on the water sprawled on rafts. So if you’ve got a sports lover and beach book worm combination in your house, Grand Lido would make a great combination so that everyone got the kind of vacation they really wanted.

Our interactions with the water staff were pleasant. In speaking to divers, they had an outstanding experience diving on the far reefs, and the help and instruction – like all the service got great reviews.

Grand Lido is a fabulous all round choice if you are looking for water sports with its ocean bay location and one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Or, if you are simply looking for an upscale vacation, nude or not, it is well worth putting on your itinerary.

Have you ever had sex on a beach?

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No, I’m not talking about the cocktail with orange juice and vodka. I’m talking about sand in your bathing suit and fish nibbling on your toes kind of sex. Think of the “From Here to Eternity” scene where the couple is making out, rolling around in the surf and dream about how hot and exciting that looked.

It turns out that many Canadian women have a fantasy about beach sex. In a new Ipsos Reid survey done for tripcentral.ca, 43% of women admitted that they had sex outside of their hotel room while on holidays. These women fantasized about sauna sex, hammock sex, public bathroom sex, and just about other private and romantic spot you can think of while on holiday. And who said that Canadian women are conservative!
I wasn’t surprised. When I speak to women about the best sex of their lives they invariably talk about parking, picnic blankets, or any place outside of the bedroom as their most memorable romps. Most people think that it is men that are looking for newness in the bedroom (and they would be right), but it turns out that it is women who overwhelmingly prefer the unique locations. Men tend to think about interesting positions and duration as their best sex. So holiday sex works for both parties.

I often ask my sex therapy patients how much sex they have on holidays. It’s a great barometer of the health of a couple’s sex life. If you have no outside stress, and your only decision of the day is a Mojito or Margarita, how easy is it to re-kindle some of that waning passion? Given that I think everyone needs sensual adventures, a great romantic holiday is one of the best things you can do for your relationship. It can certainly help your sex life. And in keeping with the survey results, if you can sneak out for some discreet shagging outside of the hotel room then the vacation ranks up there with the best sex of your life.


Windjammer Cruises. It should be on your bucket list too.

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One of the things that both Blaik and I had on our travel bucket list is a trip aboard one of the Windjammer sailing cruises. Not quite the tall ships of Master and Commander that Blaik would like to crew for a voyage, more like a relaxed, inclusive adventure for grown ups who like their creature comforts. The challenge has been in finding the right time and cruise to embark on.

Apparently this week the Windjammer people have announced two new cruises for the fall of 2011. They are both 9 day outings (a perfect length of time for landlubbers). You get the magic of the tall ships, the chance to really get to know your sailing companions, and the opportunity to really feel like you are sailing. These are more than just the typical Caribbean island hop.

The first called The Hidden Treasures of the Ionian, features sailings between Athens and Malta. The vacation includes a 7-day voyage, complimentary hotel accommodations for two nights in Athens at a Windstar designated hotel, complimentary transfer and invitation to Windstar’s Yacht Club Party. This is a chance to let your hair down and see the Mediterranean the way it was meant to be seen. It’s also a chance to highlight the rich history and culture of enchanting destinations, UNESCO World Heritage sites, ancient Greek civilizations, charming coastal villages and breathtaking islands.

The second is the” I dream of Turkey” (okay that’s just my name for it) cruise. It’s the Cyprus and Turkey cruise that lets you re-live the voyages of the swashbuckling sailors in the movies of our youth.

The press release reads:

“The intoxicating aromas of exotic spices and luxurious oils beckon from Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar. Lobster risotto and other decadent treats call from the restaurants of Mykonos. The ruins of Ephesus near Kusadasi invite you to wander along their well-worn paths. Celebrate another brilliant Santorini sunset with a glass of ouzo. See Ottoman mansions and wooden yatis the way they were meant to be seen – from a small boat sailing the Bosporus. Delight in the pleasure of discovering an energy and earthiness found nowhere else in the world.”

I don’t know about you, but it has moved way up on our bucket list. We’ll let you know how it goes after we give them a whirl at some point in the (hopefully) not-too-distant-future.

Red light, green light (travel to Mexico)

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With all the publicised violence in Mexico (mostly related to the war on drugs), we thought it would be appropriate to write about our experiences. We have visited Mexico more than a dozen times, have travelled by car through large areas and have yet to have anything resembling a bad experience. In fact, we have been greeted warmly by locals and have many wonderful stories of truly pleasant people. Some of the people we met are now counted among our friends.

Getting there from anywhere in North America is fast and easy. No visa is required and your passport is the only documentation you will need. Red light, green light refers to the way the customs process is handled. After having your passport stamped in immigration, you pick up your luggage and line up for customs. In Canada or the US, you generally play 50 questions with the customs officer and then are free to go. In Mexico, you walk up to the officer and push a big button. The light comes on green or red and it is totally random. Green means you pass without any questions and are free to enter the country. Red means your bags are thoroughly searched on the spot and in the open. No talking your way out of anything and the Mexican authorities have zero tolerance for drugs or weapons. While most of the time you get green, we have done the “red” routine on at least one or two occasions. Be prepared to have your tighty whiteys open to the world and if you happen to be transporting any bedroom toys, I hope you don’t blush easily.

From the airport onward it is smooth sailing. You can have a car pre-rented or pick one up there easily. Gas is cheap and the roads are good. You can also pre-book transportation to the hotel if it is not included in your package. Nightlife is plentiful and safe. Basic safety applies as it would in all countries including here in Canada. Common sense also applies. Keep away from illegal substances or activities and Mexico is a great place to travel through.

Some thoughts for the drivers though. You will see military checkpoints along highways. They too are inspecting for weapons or drugs. They are heavily armed and look intimidating but pose no problem at all to vacationers. Stop, smile and open the trunk. They may or may not want to quickly open any suitcases. You are on your way in seconds without problems. They don’t ask for ID. And stick to the speed limits. The Federal police have a knack for spotting tourists speeding and are more than pleased to pull you over and ask for a generous donation. Always a good idea to have some cash on you in case you need to cover a fine.

Given our affection for the country and people of Mexico, it is disheartening to hear the media play up the relatively few incidents (and very few which involve innocent tourists). Don’t be afraid to consider it for your next relaxing inexpensive vacation. If you are a first timer, stick to the tourist areas of the Yucatan or the west coast. We would be happy to be on a plane there tonight.



Orlando for couples

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Orlando may be one of the easiest destinations from central and eastern Canada to reach. Home of the famous Disney world resorts, theme parks in this central Florida destination are so overwhelming that they have their own listing on the local weather channel. We found direct flights from Ottawa, Toronto and Syracuse for less than $75 (plus the usual plethora of taxes) each way. A three and a half hour flight, thousands of hotel rooms available and when combined with a lower US dollar, an inexpensive Orlando escape may be just the thing to do this spring. It may actually be cheaper and easier to head south than stay in Canada if you are looking for a weekend get away.

There are loads of things to explore as a couple, even if you stay away from the craziness of the theme parks.

As marriage therapists, we are always going on and on about regular date nights and romantic interludes with your partner. It is about how adding fun adventure excursions (anything that gets your adrenaline up) is necessary to keep the love alive.

Orlando has a number of grown-up attractions that are more than PG-13. The Treasure Tavern, a bawdy variety dinner show is a great way to get in touch with your inner pirate. The saucy alter ego of the well known family pirate show, Treasure Tavern is the story about Greta Von Keegal (lamenting her dead husband, Long Dick), the tavern’s outlandish bar maven who runs a cabaret show with a cast of talented Cirque du Soliel type performers and comedians. Dinner is a three course prime rib affair. The servers are in wench costumes and participate throughout the show all the while flirting with you through your dinner. The whole evening is $49 a person, and is a great night out. Bring your camera for those naughty pirate facebook pictures.

Orlando isn’t famous for being a sports town but is home to the NBA team The Orlando Magic. The less than one year old Amway Center is impressive and easy to get to. Blues bands and buskers entertain outside for a festival feel, and the tickets are easy to get and inexpensive. We saw Michael Jordan (along with his Charlotte Bobcats) while we were there, handsome as ever. And between the dancers, entertaining mascot, and fast paced basketball it was a great way to experience the NBA in a five star sports facility.

For couples looking for more luxury, the Peabody hotel on International Drive has a $450 package that includes an overnight stay, bottle of champagne, dinner at the Italian steak house, breakfast, spa services, cocktails and a VIP turn down service. The spa at the Peabody emphasizes serenity and overlooks their meditation gardens and pools.

One of our favourite experiences in Orlando was the air boat rides on the big and small Lakes Toho. Just 20 minutes south of Disney, the airboats with their kevlar bottoms go over everything and fly through the shallow, marshy water. It was fast, thrilling and this experience of nature is unique to the Florida everglades. They give you headsets and explain details of the abundant wildlife. Spring is the best time to see the alligators and we must have come within 10 feet of fifteen medium to very large alligators. Baby gators, ospreys, eagles and fish were all plentiful in this pristine lake. Wild pigs and rabbits were visible on the shoreline. The rides with either the large Boggy Creek company or smaller outfitters run about $40 an adult.

Another great adult excursion in Orlando guaranteed to get your adrenaline up and bond you as a couple is a three lap drive in a two seater IndyCar at the Indy racing experience. Other suggestions include horseback riding or doing a zipline Safari through 4,700 acres of untamed wilderness in south central Florida. Of course you can always go manatee sighting on many of the inland water ways for something completely different.

Have you ever had that urge to just hibernate? The best hotels in which to never get out of that white robe

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Is your idea of a vacation where you get to sink down into one of those amazing hotel beds with your sweetie and not surface for 3 days? We painted that scenario to a group of friends and we all groaned with pleasure at the thought of three days of hibernating. If you believe the evolutionary biologists (and we do), we are meant to be in our caves sleeping away February. Or in our case, packing to head south somewhere. So many people have an amazing sleep in hotel rooms. The right temperature, absolute darkness and nobody disturbing you if you want to snuggle under that comforter. We brainstormed about the best hotels for staying in bed. The rule was, if you can’t do it in one of those bathrobes, then it didn’t count. So we explored our favourite best hotels to never get out of your bathrobe.

1. Anse Chastenet, St. Lucia. Those three sided rooms overlooking the Pitons that we raved about. You can stay in your room and still think you are outside. The individual plunge pools are luxurious. With an organic farm on site, the food was unbelievable. We loved the sleep as you felt you were sleeping outside.
2. Mkuze Falls, South Africa. Abject luxury. With an amazing view and wildlife roaming outside of your hut you wouldn’t even have to go on safari every day. The falls look like a scene from Jurassic Park. And our hut included the best King-like bed we’ve ever seen.
3. Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Montreal. The scene of the most famous love in history. The place where John and Yoko holed up in nothing but their bathrobes. They have been catering to room service lovers for decades.
4. Sleeping Beauty Hotel, London. We know couples who checked into this hotel and didn’t come up for air for 2 days. We don’t know how much sleeping they got (smile), but they claimed the beds were amazingly comfortable.
5. Westin Vancouver. With a great view and one of those new dream beds. we liked the our stay. We also stayed at a Westin (Cape Town) in South Africa that was equally as amazing. Here’s why in one of their laest media releases:

“Hotels are in the business of selling sleep, but more than half of our customers don’t sleep well and most of them go home tired—not a great report card for the hotel industry,” said Barry Sternlicht, Chairman and CEO of Starwood Hotels Resorts Worldwide, Inc., Westin’s parent. “But it’s really no surprise. After all, a good bed is one of the most important components to a good night’s sleep, and hotels have been neglecting their beds for years.”
Well, no longer. Today Westin announced that it is putting 52,000 new beds in its 39,500 guestrooms in 83 hotels in North America—a $30 million investment. Called The Heavenly Bed, Westin’s new bed is a departure from your typical hotel bed. Sumptuous, stylish and plush, the all-white Heavenly Bed consists of a custom designed Simmons Beautyrest® pillowtop mattress set; a cozy down blanket; three crisp sheets ranging in thread count from 180-250; a comforter; a duvet; and five of the best pillows in the business.
Westin knows about good sleep.

El Dorado Royale. Something different in 5 star all inclusives

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El Dorado Royale Review

By Sue McGarvie and Blaik Spratt, Clinical Relationship Therapists, Travel Journalists

On the surface the El Dorado Royale is just one of a number of five star all inclusives that frequent the coast from Cancun along the Mayan Riviera to Tulum on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. Albeit an enormous resort with over 630 rooms and 450 acres of land. The property includes horse and camel (yes camel) stables, its own desalination plant, and with ocean frontage so wide that you need a golf cart to get you to dinner. With over 1000 employees, the El Dorado Royale and the attached high-end El Dorado Casitas Royale is like a small city. Think of a land where everyone says “Hola” as you walk by. The resort emphasizes their specialized beach butler service, personal concierges, impeccable grounds, and wedding and spa services. You can find the same services at many other resorts but what stands out at the El Dorado Royale is the food.

The El Dorado is an adult only resort that emphasizes unbelievable, wildly varied, all-inclusive gourmet food. If you are a foodie who is tired of huge restaurant bills but don’t want to compromise on quality then the El Dorado is the holiday you need to explore. They have gourmet theatre where you can watch the chef prepare while you eat, or alternatively take day classes in gourmet cooking in the Mexican Fuentes restaurant. The food was fantastic. We are still talking about the duck/lamb combination dinner with the best chocolate lava cake (warm, melt-in-your-mouth, hmm) that has ever been devoured. It showed amazing restraint not to order a second dessert with its side of Baileys ice cream.

Over all the El Dorado is the “no surprises vacation”. You can bank on warm weather (when not during the rainy season), five star service and rooms with a Wow factor. Swim up plunge pool rooms, outdoor double (or quadruple) showers, indoor Jacuzzi’s, rose petals on the beds and overall abject luxury. You have the choice of 11 pools, 15 different bars (and over 50 different umbrella drinks), seven different restaurants, and three “gourmet corners” for emergency late night pizza and healthy choices. You could happily book your parents, honeymooners, even grandparents and know that there would be universality to the food, accommodations and service that you can bank on. Elegant, sophisticated, adult, and very high end are the words we would use to describe the El Dorado Royale.

But we wanted to look beyond the amazing food, weather, and property to find out what was truly special about the El Dorado. And we found it in the most unexpected place.

Mexico has been late in embracing environmental and “green” concerns. However in keeping with a new recyclable and organic emphasis at the El Dorado, the Mayan owner has embarked on an ambitious new greenhouse program. With acres of greenhouses using the latest technology, this new program is defining freshness for hotel foods, and offering up a model of organic farming. Yup, the El Dorado luxury winter palace for discriminating tourists is getting into farming vegetables in a big way. They currently produce over 1.5 tons of fresh vegetables a day. They supply all of their El Dorado and Azul chain of hotels, sell vegetables and herbs at a reduced cost to employees and are now able to sell more to other neighbouring hotels. Besides the awe inspiring volume of food produced in the automated greenhouses, what is cool is that the growing materials are crushed up coconut shells and beach sand. The agronomist on staff is using abundant and readily available natural products as a growth medium for the plants. They use natural tree saps as insecticide and their own bee colonies for pollination. Coupled with perfect temperatures, and loads of light it represents ideal growing conditions.

The staff has really bought into the concept of fresh, organic food as a way to differentiate the resort from a crowded marketplace. Our tour was conducted by an enthusiastic tennis pro turned junior agronomist and everyone from the bellmen to the wait staff knew how special the greenhouse program is to the resort. With plans to expand to fruit, berry and additional herbs, the greenhouse is one of the ways that the El Dorado chooses to be serious about food. The chef picks his produce every day for dinner, and works with the greenhouse staff to try different varieties for subtle flavours. The resort offers daily tours of the greenhouse for interested guests, and can include samples of home grown vegetables as take aways to add to the fresh fruit bowl found in all the rooms.

It is an organic success story at a resort that has embraced healthy living among all the decadence. And the care put into the all inclusive food that the El Dorado Royale serves is definitely a difference maker when selecting a holiday resort.