Mexico is looking to be a great option for travelers this year - mostly open with no COVID test required. I just returned from UNICO 2087 Resort and everything about traveling to Cancun was great.
For a short trip and for all-inclusive I don't think you can go wrong right now with Cancun/Riviera Maya, Cabo or Puerto Vallarta.
I think already mentioned, but UNICO is great, Secrets Maroma or Secrets Akumal, Excellence Playa Mujeres or Atelier are all great options.
We really enjoyed UNICO - food was great, room was so nice, service was a little slow but after talking with our host we were informed that they are highly understaffed right now due to COVID protocols. Basically, if a staff member is sick and needs to be out they have other staff waiting in the wings to come in and work.
I'm hearing some amazing things about Atelier in Playa Mujeres....cannot wait to visit there.
Cabo is very popular right now too - I have clients that just returned from Secrets Puerto Los Cabos and said all was good there. I also have clients going to Le Blanc next month and I'm excited for them to see this resort - it's amazing, one of the best if not the best in Cabo. There is a Le Blanc in Cancun but I like the Cabo one better.
All in all, Mexico seems to be the place to go right now.
As far as the Caribbean - I have clients in Dominican Republic right now and everything has been great. No COVID test required anymore, but they are choosing random travelers at the airport to get tested. (My clients were not chosen, nor did they see anyone get chosen) I really like the Excellence brand in Punta Cana, El Carmen is one of the most popular.
St. Lucia and Exuma, Bahamas would be my next choice - both are requiring negative COVID tests but I think the process is going rather smoothly.
Sandals resorts aren't my absolute favorite resorts - I think sometimes they just are overpriced for an all-inclusive resort. They didn't handle the COVID cancellations and rebookings very well, IMO. They were only rebooking to different dates for clients who had scheduled trips, which is fine if it works out for the client BUT sometimes that's just not an option and they would not budge on their cancellation policies.
But, I do still have clients who enjoy a Sandals and Beaches resort (Beaches Turks & Caicos is awesome!) and I usually will book them at Sandals Emerald Bay (the beach is gorgeous!) or Sandals Grande St. Lucian -- out of all them that I have sent clients to, these are the two that always come back with great reviews.
Lauren K '07
www.breezecustomtravel.com
@breezecustomtravel