We just did two Travel by Tatten Day Trips to Newport, RI, traveling back to the Gilded Age, 

We started with the Marble House, built between 1888 and 1892 for Mr. and Mrs. William Vanderbilt; their little summer cottage. This little cottage has 500,000 cubic feet of marble at the time costing $7 million. I can’t imagine what their full time home looked like!

Then off to Castle Hill Inn were we enjoyed a leisurely lunch in the private Ocean Room.  The food, the service level and the view…all were wonderful!  If you are ever in Newport area take the time for a wonderful meal at Castle Hill Inn, or even better spend a night or two at this Relais & Chateaux Inn.

After lunch we visited the grandest of the Newport mansions – The Breakers. An international team of craftsmen and artisans created this 70 room Italian Renaissance-style palazzo inspired by the 16^th century palaces of Genoa and Turin. There was so much to see and the added Christmas trees and decorations made the visit special.

And yes, there was chocolate on our Newport Christmas Adventure!

See more photos on www.facebook.com/travelbytatten

Travel by Tatten Women’s Getaways – has returned from their Caribbean adventure after  a week sailing the Windward Islands.  

Our adventure started in Barbados where we boarded the beautiful 42-sail Royal Clipper – the largest full-rigged sailing ship in the world!  We sailed in casual luxury on this spacious ship accommodating only 227 guests, with stops at some of the smaller ports and secluded beaches for a swim. 

 You really need to experience first hand the unfurling of the sails – I found it emotional and heard one passenger say “what a magical moment” and another “this is magic” as the on-deck speakers play Vangelis’s Conquest of Paradise the 42 sails are unfurled – we were a striking sight!     

 A fun day was when we sailed beside and raced the Star Clipper, they were doing the Grenadine Islands itinerary.  There are three ships owned by Star Clippers sailing the world.

 Did I like the cruise – I have days when I sit at my desk and dream of my deck chair on a quite uncrowded deck surrounded by beautiful blue water and wonderful islands as the trade winds blow and the sun sets.

 Did the group like the cruise – on the second day they were asking me what was the date of next years cruise.

 And yes…there was chocolate!

I found the sun!  It’s living in Jamaica with white sand beaches and tropical breezes.

After arriving in Montego Bay, I went to Sandals private airport reception area, I was met at the door by a Sandals representative who gave me a drink, took my bags and arranged my transportation to the resort. The driver turned up the Reggae music and off we went up and over the mountain to Sandals Whitehouse.  This is where the Travel Counsellors US Conference was being held, our international conference was held in Spain with 8 countries attending, truly an international company, but this was just for US Travel Counsellors.

Sandals Whitehouse is located on the south west coast of the southern shore of Jamaica. When we arrived at the hotel I was given a cold cloth, to refresh, my bags were taken to my room as I was taken to a sitting area to check-in – no long lines at a counter – I sipped my drink and signed in. 

My room was very nice with tile floors, mahogany furniture and a balcony looking over the beach.  Sandals Resorts are award winning all-inclusive resorts with excellent service. My room had all the amenities of a fine resort and my mini bar was stocked with drinks – the all inclusive resort includes drinks.

The first evening we met at Blue Fields Beach for Welcome Cocktails and Dinner.  We had a wonderful Caribbean Buffett, tropical drinks and white grove service from the Sandals staff.  It was so nice sitting out on a warm night with my toes in the sand listening to the steel band and getting caught up with old friends…a perfect way to start a conference.

Eleanor’s Restaurant, one of seven at Sandals. 

We all met at the conference area of Sandals, where we were welcomed by our Sandals host before the start of our meetings.  We had a full day of information and motivational speakers.  That night we went to Eleanor’s Restaurant, one of seven at Sandals, for a private dinner, it was our Awards Dinner and a lot of fun. 

The Dinner Menu

Farmer’s Salad
Curry Chicken and papaya bruschetts
Hearts of palm, pumpkin, vine ripe tomato
Garden salad greens, Island fruit
Vinaigrette

Allspice Jamaican Pepper Pot – soup
Sweet Potato Dumpling

Sandals Surf & Turf
Grilled beef tenderoin and spiny lobster tail
lemon butter, merlot sauce

Chocolate Lava Cake
Vanilla Ice Cream, topical fruit compote

but If you had a body like his why not show it off. 

Morning meetings and then off to visit some of the other Sandals and Beaches Resorts. Grand Pineapple Beach Resort was first, an all-inclusive resort located on Negril’s famous seven-mile beach, this resort is the economical level of the three brands. Next to Beaches, the family resort brand, where we had a Sesame Luncheon with Cookie Monster and Grover.

Lunch Menu

Appetizer – Jamaica Crab Plaw Salad
St. Elizabeth sunburst greens and tropical fruits

Entree – Land Meets Sea
Bacon Wrapped Beef Tenderloin
with sugarcane Jerk Lobster Kebob
Potato and vegetables.

Dessert – Warm Cheese Cake
with stewed fruits

Then on to Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa, this is the award winning adult only all-inclusive brand.  On the way back to Sandals Whithouse we stopped at Rick’s Cafe, voted on of the Ten Best Bars in the world, to have a drink, watch the divers and the sunset.  People dive from the cliffs, the highest area is 35 feet where some of the locals dive from.  It’s a wonderful area for people watching, from the tourist who are hesitant about diving in – to the local man who put on his own show!  He started doing hand stands before climbing to the highest platform, where he posed and did one hand pull ups on a branch…but if you had a body like his why not show it off.  After leaving Rick’s we stopped for some Jerk Chicken, spicey local chicken.  Later that night some of us had  dinner sitting out by the water.

 We had one more dinner, I was told it would be special …and it was!  

Today we attended an intense Sandals Workshop to become Sandals Certified Agents.  So much information – ask me about having a Butler on your next vacation; or maybe you would like to be one of the many wedding couples that have chosen Sandals or Beaches for their wedding…Imagine the Possibilites!

I spent the afternoon in the main pool, the water was like bath water, thinking I didn’t want to leave the warm, sun and wonderful service I found at Sandals.  I hated to get out of the pool, with swim up bar, but we had one more dinner and I was told it would be special…and it was.

It was called the Vineyard Dinner.  The room was decorated beautifuly, music was paying and each table setting had 5 wine gasses!  The Executive Chef expained each course before it was served and the Wine Stewart told us about the wine for the course and why it was chosen.

VINEYARD DINNER MENU

Wine – Moet Chandon

Seafood Cocktail
Shrimp, scallop & Calamari

Avocado and Tomato Tartar
Gazpacho, Parmesan Crisp

Wine – Gabbiano Pinot Grigio

Allspice Pumpkin Bisque
Yellow Corn Flan, Yam Chip

Wine – Lindemans 65 Chardonnay

Caramelized Onion-Goat Cheese Pie
Prosciutto Crisp, Garden Salad Greens Black Olive
and Basil Pesto, Balsamic Vinaigrette

Sour Soap and Giner Granite

Wine – Rosemount Shiraz

Beef Tenderloin Wellington and Lamb Chop in Potato Jacket
Mushroom-green peppercorn sauce, horseradish mint cream

Wine – “Pink”

Pastry Chef’s Trio:
Caramelized Banana Torte – Dark Run Syrup
Double Vanilla Ice Cream Profiterole – Chocolate Sauce
Coconut Papaya Parfait – Red Berry Coulis

All served by white gloved waiters, the presentation was flawless.

This was our last night, before going back to my real world where I have to make my own meals and clean my own room…being so pampered was nice while it lasted!

Life is not about waiting until the storm passes…it’s about learning to dance in the rain!

This comes from a conference I attended, at Sandals in Jamaica, last week.  I will be posting on my Jamaican adventure in the next few days.