I recently had the pleasure of working with two fantastic women at CaboVillas.com, Julie Byrd and Melisa Alvarez. These women impressed me so much that I had to feature them on my blog to bring attention to their customer service, CaboVillas.com and Cabo as a destination (which I learned much more about through working with these women). I decided the best way to do justice to them and their destination was to let them pass along their experiences first had via an interview. Here’s what they had to say:

Maya: In a two to three sentences can you describe what CaboVillas.com does?

Julie: CaboVillas.com (Earth, Sea & Sky Vacations) has specialized in Los Cabos travel for over twenty years. We represent 135 villa rentals and 50 resorts in the region and have long-established relationships with the very best vendors in the area. In addition to accommodations, we arrange weddings, catering/chef services, ground transportation, activities, fishing and yacht charters, golf reservations and in-villa spa services. Because we focus on Cabo, our entire team is intimately familiar with the destination.

Melisa: We have helped hundreds of happy couples and groups plan perfect events in Los Cabos, from casual beach weddings to lavish galas in private villa rentals. Whether it’s a memorable anniversary party or a completely customized destination wedding, our team of caterers, wedding planners, entertainers and vendors is the best in Cabo and we love working with each guest to customize their perfect day.

Maya: How long have you been with CaboVillas.com, and what is your main role/title?

Julie: I’ve been with the company for 9 years and my role is Director of Sales. I oversee our awesome team of sales agents and serve as the primary liaison with our villa owners in addition to handling in-travel client needs in conjunction with our Cabo concierge/service team.

Melisa: This is actually my second time working at CaboVillas.com. I left for a while to pursue my education but am thrilled to be back on the team as the Weddings/Events Specialist.

Maya: What are you top 3 favorite things about Cabo, particularly that make it stand out from others as a destination?

Julie: I love Cabo’s easy accessibility; it’s just a short flight from many US gateways and, because English is widely spoken in the resort areas, it’s a friendly, easy introduction to international travel. I also love Cabo’s gourmet dining options, there really are a wealth of outstanding restaurants.

Melisa: The natural beauty of the destination can’t be beat. There are pristine beaches, the unforgettable Sea of Cortez and that dramatic desert landscape. I also really love the unbeatable variety of accommodations available, from over-the-top luxury resorts like Las Ventanas al Paraiso and Capella Pedregal to beautiful villa rentals and even the fun all-inclusive hotels. There’s something for every taste.

Maya: Can you name 2 or 3 “surprises” about Cabo – things that people might not realize when considering it as a destination (ie everyone knows it for it’s beaches and resorts, but maybe other features/highlights)?

Julie: Many people think of Cabo as just a Spring Break destination, which definitely does not do Los Cabos justice. Cabo San Lucas is definitely a party town but there are also the tranquil beaches of the Corridor area and the historical charm of colonial San José del Cabo. I like to think that there’s a special Cabo for any visitor, whether it’s a group of buddies coming for a fishing/golf trip, families looking for variety, eco-tourists or couples looking for a romantic wedding and honeymoon destination.

Melisa: Within just a short drive from the bustle of Cabo San Lucas, visitors can explore the beautiful “Pueblo Magico” of Todos Santos, a historic surf town chock full of quaint art galleries located about an hour from Cabo on the Pacific Ocean. In the other direction toward the East Cape, visitors can snorkel and dive at Cabo Pulmo, one of only three living coral reef systems in North America.

Maya: What are some important things people should consider/know before coming to Cabo – i.e. any unique customs, requirements, cautions, etc?

Julie: Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Cortez and miles of desert, Los Cabos feels like an island, isolated as it is and thousands of miles away from mainland Mexico and the US-Mexico border.

Melisa: One of the beauties of Los Cabos is how easy it is as a destination. As Julie mentioned before, English is spoken throughout the resort areas and dollars are widely accepted. That said, visitors should understand that they are not visiting an American city. In general, Mexico is known as a country with legendarily warm hospitality, and Cabo is no exception.

Maya: If you had to give your 2-line “elevator pitch”, why should people come to Cabo as a destination?

Julie: Cabo combines the best of luxury accommodations, unbelievable natural beauty and great activities.

Melisa: Our experienced team of wedding and event professionals can help you plan the perfect destination wedding or special family getaway in Los Cabos.

Thank you ladies! Please check out their website at www.cabovillas.com. You can also follow them on twitter @cabojulie and @caboweddings.

*Photos courtesy of CaboVillas.com

If you subscribe to our emagazine, TraveLuxe, you will see that tomorrow’s release of the January-February edition sheds some light on three of our top destination suggestions for 2010. (If you don’t subscribe, hurry up and do so now so that you can receive tomorrow’s edition!).

First off, let me say that there are virtually innumerable destinations around the world that we suggest. Some of these, however, we don’t feel need the extra boost as they are already quite popular and not by any means emerging (ie Rome, Paris, London). Instead, our suggestions focus either on emerging destinations, or those that just don’t necessarily get as much press as some of their neighbors.

Secondly, even with the list narrowed down as described above, we didn’t have nearly enough room in this TraveLuxe edition to focus on each destination. We chose perhaps our top three for the issue and are continuing the list in this blog throughout the course of the next few weeks. As a preview for what’s coming up, here are some of the destinations we’ll be highlighting:

• Egypt
• Morroco
• The Maldives
• The Seychelles
• Madagascar
• Russia (via land or river boat)
• A few more surprises via train and boat!

As for the countries in tomorrow’s issue, well you’ll just have to read it to find out! This is just a short list of our features over the next few weeks. We would LOVE to hear your ideas for additional features. After all, we want to help you learn about the destinations you are most interested in! Please leave your comments for the countries, regions, or types of travel that you would like to explore in the next year (or next several years).

Happy New Year and Happy Travels!

*A note: this blog will now be posted on Mondays and Wednesdays, instead of Tuesdays and Thursdays as it was last year. For the next few weeks, the destination of the week will not be featured on Fridays, as we the weekly blogs will be dedicated to destinations features. Instead, each Friday will feature photos from around the world to help spark your travel bug! Destination of the Week will return shortly!

This week’s post will be focused on a reader’s question a week or so ago. He stated that he he’s heard great things about the Caribbean, but doesn’t really know what each island offers. As a honeymoon planner who books a lot of trips to the Caribbean, I can assure you that this reader is not alone in his uncertainty. Below are a few guestions to help you start to narrow down your search. Make sure to check back later in the week for the next blog in this series. 

I want an all inclusive, where should I go?

Jamaica, Dominican Republic, St. Lucia, and Mexico are known for their all-inclusives. St. Thomas, St. Martin, Aruba, Antigua, Anguila, Turks and Caicos and several others also offer a few all-inclusive options.

What’s the best destination for scuba and snorkeling?

Bonaire, the Cayman Islands and Cozumel on Mexico’s Caribbean cost are among some of the top dive spots in the world, though you can find opportunities for diving and snorkeling virtually everywhere in the Caribbean. 

We’d like something quieter, less touristy. What are the best options?

The best bet is to avoid those islands that are major cruise stops. For something more out of the way, the British Virgin Islands, Grenada, Anguilla, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Bart’s, St. Kitts and Nevis and Martinique are all good options. 

Which Islands have the best restaurants, nightlife and shopping?

Aruba is known for all three. St. Thomas is also known for it’s shopping (especially jewelry and electronics) and also has some good restaurants and shops. Many of the resorts, on each of the islands offer restaurant and shopping right on site. 

Want to learn more? You’re in luck! Our next TraveLuxe issue is our Cruises and Islands issue. Sign up today for free! 

Whether couples prefer an intimate ceremony on a secluded island or choose to take their guests with them for the big event, it seems clear that couples are looking to take their wedding on the road (plane, train, boat).  The destination wedding market has grown by $10 billion since 2001 and is expected to increase another $3 billion this year. So why do are destination weddings so appealing?

• Less work  and stress: Many resorts and accommodations employs their own wedding coordinator who can take care of most of the arrangements for the event.  A travel planner can arrange all of the travel for the couple and their guests, leaving the bride and groom much less to do and more time to actually enjoy the upcoming events. 

• More intimate affairs: most couples do not expect 200 people at a destination wedding. By not staying close to home, they can tactfully limit the guest list to those very close to them (or to no one at all) and avoid much of the stress involved in trying to make a large number of people happy

• More time to enjoy loved ones:  destination weddings often double as a vacation for the guests. This gives the bride and groom more than just a few busy hours at the reception to spend time with those closest to them and gives the guest an exciting and generally not too expensive vacation with a special purpose. 

• Cost: believe it or not, most destination weddings costs much less than a traditional wedding. With fewer guests, reception costs are cut by a good deal and many locations have wedding packages which help to save on expenses. 

• A truly unforgettable event: be honest, how well do you remember the flowers at your cousins wedding or the DJ at your neighbor’s reception? Probably not very well. If they had gotten married on a tropical island at sunset, at a Vineyard in Napa or on a mountain peak in Europe, it would be virtually impossible to for the wedding to escape your memory. 

For more information on planning a destination wedding, country requirements and destination ideas, visit the Destination Weddings & Honeymoons link on our Services page.