Author Archives: Clara Power
I admit it. The ending to Toy Story 3 tears me up.
Every. Single. Time.
It starts with the scene where Woody watches through a hole in the box as Andy says goodbye to his Mom, who has just walked into his room and is struck by how different it looks with all his favourite things packed away for college.
I know I’m not alone. This family favourite movie tugs at the heartstrings of every Mom out there. [Urban Mommy Elisa says “This. Every time.”]
We know it’s going to happen. In fact, we WANT it to happen. We want to see the children we’ve raised to adulthood go off to college or university and start the next exciting chapter of their lives. It’s so exciting and bittersweet all at the same time.
If your kids growing up feels like it will be here before you know it and you wish you could slow down time, then there is no better time to create those memories. No better time to make these last few years before they fly the nest truly count.
Research shows that families who travel together develop life long bonds that don’t easily happen any other way.
We only get 18 summers with our kids before they are wrapped up in college, jobs, friends and boyfriends/girlfriends.
Wouldn’t you love to make those few summers unforgettable? Planning a fantastic vacation for your family is a great way to do just that. It’s an investment in your family.
It’s memories they will carry with them long after you are gone. It’s the things they will tell their children stories about for years to come.
Beyond that, giving your children the gift of travel, exposing them to different cultures and experiences is priceless. They’ll learn far more from those experiences than they will in any classroom.
Whether it is something as simple as meeting a favourite childhood character onboard a Disney Cruise or traveling halfway across the world to visit the Grand Palace in Thailand, those memories will be priceless for them, and for you.
[Urban Mommy Elisa says “Too true, those 18 years go by too fast. My boys were just babies and now we’re more than half way done. My family took a 5 month break from urban life to travel Europe in 2018. It’s something we treasure. It’s time and money that couldn’t be spent better. A year later we still talk about what we saw and did with wonder. It’s inspiring, rejuvenating, and the experiences and memories are truly priceless. If you want some advice on extended travel, I’m always happy to discuss our adventure, just comment or get in touch. And Clara is the perfect person to help plan!]
Clara Power is a mother to 2 well traveled kids, Andrew and Lauren. She is a Personal Travel Advisor at her own travel agency, Clara Power TPI, which is in association with Travel Professionals International. As an active traveler having visited over 35 countries and almost every continent, (still working on Antarctica), Clara is no stranger in understanding the unique wants and needs of families travelling together making her your expert choice for creating those special family vacation experiences. Her agency is also recognized as an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner due to her extensive knowledge and superior service.
Do not hesitate to call her today to learn about what she can do to help you plan a seamless and enjoyable vacation!
cpower@tpi.ca
clarapower.ca
ClaraPowerTPITravel
Originally published on Clara Power Restless Traveller
Disclaimer – UrbanSuburbanMommy.com does not receive any financial or product/travel compensation from Clara Power TPI. We believe she is an exceptional and extremely knowledgeable travel agent we and love her insight and advice. She’s just too good not to share!
Whether you prefer a big resort or a small one, a boutique or a chain, a good beach, amazing pools, quiet or active – there is literally a resort out there to suit everyone’s tastes and preferences.
Last week I had the opportunity to stay at Azul Beach Riviera Maya, a 5 star resort in Mexico. This family friendly resort has 148 rooms and is super small and compact. I loved that I could walk from one end of the resort to the other in less than 5 minutes. And if I forgot something in my room (which I always do) it only took me a minute to get there and retrieve my forgotten item. This is the beauty of staying at boutique resort.
One of the things I loved most about this Gourmet Inclusive resort is that the small size did not mean that it lacked services or amenities. With restaurants, pools, multiple bars and daily activities, there was always something to do if I wanted, or if I just wanted to ready my book, I could!
What I found most impressive about this resort was the quality of everything. The a la carte restaurants including Latino (Southern American/Mexican) and Roma (Italian) just to name a few – were all authentic to the cuisine that they served. By day 2, all the staff greeted me with “Hello Ms. Power,” and the bartending staff were familiar with my drink order and had it ready before they even asked me if I wanted a drink.
As for my kids, the experiences that they had was never-ending.
Day 1 we enjoyed the Nickelodeon Orange carpet event, followed by an amazing Character Breakfast the next day with some of their favourite Nickelodeon characters including Sponge-Bob and Patrick.
Every day the Kids Club offered activities like soccer on the beach, pool games, Piñata making, Spanish lessons – the list just goes on!
In the evenings there were always entertaining shows that appealed to the whole family. As the resort is small and intimate, my children were able to make friends from other parts of Canada, the US and even some Germans that were visiting.
With the kids continuously being entertained, I was able to spend some time at the Vassa Spa without having to feel guilty that I wasn’t spending time with them. This spa offered all the services that you would expect from a full service spa. If you plan on visiting, be sure to experience the Relaxation Ritual followed by a full body massage and facial. (That’s what I did and it was phenomenal.)
To say this was a relaxing resort would be an understatement. I loved that there was no pumping techno music at the pool, that I did not have to fight for a lounge chair or get up at 4 am to secure one, that my kids could walk around freely without having to worry that they would get lost, no line ups for restaurants or reservations required and no pesky little wrist bands to mess up with my tan lines.
Since I have been back I have consistently been asked if I would return to this resort and the answer of course is – YES!!
If this type of boutique resort suits your travel fancy, contact me at cpower@tpi.ca or 416.996.6849 to discuss in more detail. Right now if you book this resort with me for travel between August 12 and December 22, 2017 you will receive a $1,000 USD credit that can be used towards private beach dinners, a massage, room upgrade, character breakfasts and more.
Clara Power is a mother to 2 well traveled kids, Andrew and Lauren. She is a Personal Travel Advisor at her own travel agency, Clara Power TPI, which is in association with Travel Professionals International. As an active traveler having visited over 35 countries and almost every continent, (still working on Antarctica), Clara is no stranger in understanding the unique wants and needs of families travelling together making her your expert choice for creating those special family vacation experiences. Her agency is also recognized as an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner due to her extensive knowledge and superior service.
Do not hesitate to call her today to learn about what she can do to help you plan a seamless and enjoyable vacation!
cpower@tpi.ca
clarapower.ca
ClaraPowerTPI
Originally published on Clara Power Restless Traveller
Azul Beach Hotel – The only truly boutique resort in my favourite picks is the charming and cozy Azul Beach Hotel. This resort is small and compact with only 148 suites, however, it offers 5 pools, 5 restaurants and kids and tweens clubs. The Azulitos Playhouse features programs from “My Gym” to the “Nickelodeon Experience” which allows families to dine with SpongeBob SquarePants. With a full service spa for the parents and abundance of beach activities for the whole family, it is sure to please everyone.
Hyatt Ziva Cancun – This is truly a 5 star resort. Located in the heart of downtown Cancun, it offers a playful family escape to keep everyone happy. With some of the most stunning beaches in all of Cancun, entertaining KidZ Club & Splash Park, beach and pool cabanas, roaming food and ice cream carts, you never want for much at this resort. With service from the heart, you will feel like family from the moment that you arrive.
Hard Rock Riviera Maya – With ‘The Little Big Club Experience’ that features kids’ favourite characters like Angelina Ballerina, Thomas the Train, and Barney for children 4 and up, this resort is always a family pleaser.
Multiple dining options, amazing entertainment, various room categories and splash pad area make this resort a popular choice for those looking for action. With unlimited WiFi, teens can also enjoy the lounge and disco area. The best part is the two-bedroom family suite filled with kid friendly mini-bar (juices and milk), a kid’s room service menu, beach toys and kid-size bathrobes.
Dreams Playa Mujeres – one of the newest resorts in the Cancun area, this resort has so much to offer. This family friendly resort chain has 5 Dreams resorts in the Cancun/Mayan area, all of which deliver great experiences.
Playa Mujeres is located within a gated community and offers massive swimming pools, onsite water-park and lazy river, endless activities including archery, batting cages, and beach football, making sure that there is something for the whole family.
The Explores Club for ages 3 to 12 offers the experience of camping adventures on the beach, treasure hunts, and games rooms. The Core Zone Teens Club offers weekly social events, bonfires, disco mixers, foam parties, kayak and bike tours, and nature expeditions.
Generations Riviera Maya – this resort perfect for multi-generational families. It offers Gourmet Inclusive a la carte cuisine, infinity pool balcony suites and butler service in each room category.
Whether you are looking for a 1, 2 or 3 bedroom ocean front suite there are accommodations to satisfy the smallest to largest families travelling together. The Eko Kids Club offers services until 11pm and the Little Eko Chefs program is perfect for the budding foodie in the family.
Grand Velas Riviera Maya – The Mini Club here offers a slew of fun, special activities to create an unforgettable vacation experience for little ones. Kids will have the time of their life, enjoying everything from Mayan shows and Amy’s Cinema (the club mascot) to bungee jumping and dance contests. The club is also open longer than most, from 9 am to 11 pm. This resort is set on what feels like a jungle with tropical trees and mangroves that it feels worlds away from reality. Your kids will never be bored.
Paradisus Playa Del Carmen La Esmeralda – The very popular Family Concierge Suites here know how to treat the little ones. With access to private heated swimming pool, private beach area, kids beach kits, children bath amenities, in-room PlayStation or Wii, children’s pillows…etc etc, you can see how quickly you will feel spoiled. The resort also offers a pirate ship and obstacle course in the swimming pool, plus lots of adult activities to keep everyone happy. Add a great location and fabulous food, you have the making of a very memorable holiday.
So with the kids out of school soon, it might be time to start thinking about a getaway! Let me know which resort suits your family best or which Mexico resort is your favourite!
Clara Power is a mother to 2 well traveled kids, Andrew and Lauren. She is a Personal Travel Advisor at her own travel agency, Clara Power TPI, which is in association with Travel Professionals International. As an active traveler having visited over 35 countries and almost every continent, (still working on Antarctica), Clara is no stranger in understanding the unique wants and needs of families travelling together making her your expert choice for creating those special family vacation experiences. Her agency is also recognized as an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner due to her extensive knowledge and superior service.
Do not hesitate to call her today to learn about what she can do to help you plan a seamless and enjoyable vacation!
cpower@tpi.ca
clarapower.ca
Clara Power TPI
