Hidden Travel Gems

Occasionally we get requests from folks to suggest some place to go for a weekend or a short stay that is different, not a lot of people, not real busy but with some character to it.....and they'll say, “you know what I mean”.

Of course, making a living in the travel business requires that I suggest some place that will reciprocate if I make a booking with them; in other words, do they pay a commission. Most of the bed and breakfast places, and some high luxury properties do not pay commissions, so that will limit my suggestions, for sure.

However, I often do relent, and suggest places that I have heard from clients that are very good and do not pay commissions. Right here in Abilene there are some excellent locations that over the years we have suggested that they consider. Perini's B&B and Steakhouse is a prime example, as is the Sayles Landmark at 7^th and Sayles. Then there is the Cedar Cottage downtown right on Cedar Creek where Abilene got its start; even the Lazy Cactus merits a suggestion. Then for a 3-bedroom, 2 bath house, the vacation home at 1109 Highland, owned by Bill Noonan and his wife would pass muster. Put one of these properties on your “hidden travel gem” list, along with the many suggestions to see and do that are offered by the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau, and you've got you a real nice 2-3 night staycation.

If you want to get out of town, then the Magnolia House in Fredricksburg or Eve's Organic Bed and Breakfast in Marathon would fit the bill for a two night getaway.

Then, if you wanted to really get away, you might consider the adult-only, all-inclusive property down along the Mayan Riviera, just south of Cancun, called the Iberostar Grand. It has the beautiful, wide, expansive beach and never crowded, a luxurious spa and indoor pool, a quiet serenity pool, four restaurants, and if you so choose, a challenging golf course.

Some other gems I suggest are the all-inclusive properties in St.Lucia, Anse Chastanet Resort or Jade Mountain, the Casa de Campo in La Roma, Dominican Republic, the Royalton Negril Hidedaway in Jamaica that is only 6 months old, or consider the over-the-water bungalows soon coming to the Sandals in Jamaica or in Bora Bora.

How about Mustique, a privately owned island where only 1,200 people actually live on the island, and they host a maximum of 500 tourist at a time. They have 9 beautiful beaches on 1,400 acres and you can get there by flying to Barbados, then taking an hour-long flight to Mustique on Mustique Airways.

Another hidden gem is Las Alamandas in Costalegre, Mexico. They are a 17-room boutique property on 1,500 acres of Mexican coast and are a 2.5-hour drive from the airport at Puerto Vallarta. They are understandably popular with cliffside views, isolated beaches and lagoons, and for some, thankfully, lack cell phone reception.

These are just a few of the suggestions, brought to you by The Travel Factory that has four agents with combined experience in the travel business of over 150 years. We can be located at 4150 Southwest Drive; or call us at 698-1421 or toll-free 800-760-4040. Hidden gem vacations or visually stimulating cruises, we are professionally prepared to serve your travel needs.