PARADISE TRAVEL

11/06/2025

Just wanted to update everyone on the reports we are getting from Jamaica. Our recommendation is do not book travel to Jamaica before the end of January next year. All Hyatt resorts are not opening until mid January at the earliest, Sandals and Beaches resorts are not opening until mid December and 3or 4 of their resorts are not opening until mid May of next year. They are Sandals South Coast, Sandals Royal Caribbean, and Sandals Montego Bay. The only resort that did not close and is still open is the Moon Palace Jamaica in Ocho Rios. It is open and received only minor damage. Both airports are now open.

11/02/2025

🇯🇲 Jamaica update 🇯🇲

🚨🚨The Jamaican government will be doing a full island assessment and travelers will not be welcomed before November 16th🚨🚨

As Jamaica continues to assess and recover from hurricane Melissa, we ask for everyone’s patience as this is a natural disaster and it may take some time to navigate and have all answers!

🚨We are working closely with the resorts and tour companies to adjust travel plans as needed, but do please keep in mind there are certain policies and procedures that have to take place when changing your travel plans. We hope to work together with each of our travelers that are affected by this natural disaster!🚨

⬇️See the below resort updates⬇️
🔹Hyatt All inclusive (Breathless, Secrets, Dreams, Zoetry, Jewel and Hyatt-they will not be welcoming guests back onto Their properties through January 31, 2026

🔹Sandals-TBD

🔹Excellence Oyster Bay-they are relocating guests booked through November 15 to Punta, Cana, or allowing flexible date shifts

🔹Royalton Resorts-guest with reservations through November 15 can cancel under flexible terms or move to a sister property at no additional fee

🔹Riu Resorts-they have released a minimal information but are working hard to assess damages and reopening dates

🔹Couples Resorts-they have received minimal damage and will be ready to welcome travelers as soon as the airport/destination allow

🔹Moon Palace Jamaica-they sustained minimal damage and will be ready to welcome guests after November 15th

🔹Iberostar-still assessing damages more information to follow but expecting to welcome guests after November 15th

🔹Montego Bay Airport-will be accepting commercial flights starting November 1st return travelers back home and at this time is scheduled to start welcoming travelers back to the island after November 15th

10/14/2025

Truth!

09/08/2025

Don’t let this common mistake ruin your vacation! Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least SIX MONTHS beyond your travel dates.
Always check the passport validity requirements for your destination at travel.state.gov/destination to avoid getting turned around at the airport.

08/04/2025

Understanding some important lesser known Airline rules

We will look at some major rules the airlines have that are not commonly known but can affect your travel and your cost to travel. These are rules the airlines are very strict about.

1. This rule applies to purchasing a round trip ticket with a connection. If you do this and you arrive at the city where you are making the connection and whatever the reason you do not use the connecting flight to you final destination, such as the connecting flight is canceled and you don't use the rule that the airline has to put you on the next flight and book a new flight on another airline or other reasons and you don't notify the airline you are booked on that you are doing this the airline you re booked on has the right to cancel your return flight. So make sure if you do something like this that you contact the airline you are booked with and inform them of what you are doing

2, This is called the "hidden city" rule. It is when you price out a non-stop flight to a city and the price is higher than book a connecting flight through you city to another city as cheaper so you buy the connecting flight and just get off at the connecting city and not use the connecting flight. This is one of those rules where people do this and don't get caught but if you do get caught the airline can charge you the difference in price and ban you from their airline for life. An example would be if you wanted to fly from Phoenix to San Francisco but that flight was more expensive than a flight from Phoenix to Seattle with a layover in San Francisco and you just used that to fly to San Francisco and not use the connecting flight to Seattle.

3. Airlines are very strict with the time before your flight and when you have to check in. The general rule, if you have luggage you must check in at least 1 hour before your flight. If no luggage you must check in at the gate at least 15 minutes before your flight and once the airplane door is closed you are flat out of luck. People get upset because they see the plane at the gate but the door is closed. So sorry but you are out of luck.

4. Luggage weight is another strict rule. Checked bags can weigh no more than 50 lbs. or pay a very high fee for overweight luggage. This rule has nothing to do with the plane flying but has to with the baggage handlers contract with the airline stating that their is a weight limit that the baggage has or the airline pays a penalty.

These are some of the top air regulations that the airlines have that most people are not aware of.

05/21/2025

Passengers on Southwest Airlines flights will soon be required to keep their portable chargers in plain sight while using them because of concerns about the growing number of lithium battery fires.

04/24/2025

Stayed at RIU Latino recently. Adults only resort. 5 pools. 2 swim up bars. Several restaurants. Lots of activities going on. Water park. Can attend pool parties at RIU caribe on 2 afternoons.

04/20/2025

02/25/2025

FYI - Minimum wage just went up in Mexico on January 2025 to $278.80 MXN ($13.63 US) per day. That's what those bartenders, waitress, maids and bellboys are earning. Again that is "per day".

The resort workers don't care if you tip pesos or dollars, they work hard, hoping for a tip. Tip what you can, as it makes a difference in their lives. Not to mention, once they notice you're tipping, your quality of service improves from good to great. 👍 🇲🇽🇨🇦

02/01/2025

Stayed at Dreams Las Mareas in Costa Rica. Beautiful country.