And for our first rating of a tropical, clear, beautiful location in the Caribbean, we’ve chosen St. Maarten. We were a little worried about St. Maarten as the last few years have been spent repairing from the horrible hurricane damage. However, it appears that St. Maarten is back in full force and Phillipsburg is once again a busy city. It’s a gorgeous island packed with plenty to do and even gives you two options: Dutch side and a French side. For all you nude bathers out there, check out the French side. For all you family folk, stick to the Dutch side. One of the reasons we chose St. Maarten is because of all the Caribbean Islands, it’s argued they have the best food! They don’t call it “the culinary capital of the Caribbean” for nothing. I mean any Caribbean place has great sun and sea, but sometimes the food is considered questionable. It doesn’t appear to be the case here. For more info about St. Maarten, feel free to check out these three sites: Official Page, Experience St Maarten, and their online guide. Let’s get to the hotels.

Accommodations

#1 - Le Domaine De Lonvilliers

Our number one choice, The Hotel “Le Domaine de Lonvilliers”, a real treasure nestled in the middle of lush tropical gardens mirroring the quiet waters of Anse Marcel Cove, is the complete vacation paradise, offering a relaxing haven providing the services of an international hotel with a casually elegant style of island life. We highly recommend reading more reviews as well as visiting their home page (it’s all French). No worries though, there are a couple of other sites that talk about this hotel. Hotels.com has a great page dedicated to Lonvilliers. Hope you try them out!

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#2 - La Samanna

This was not an easy decision to make. Those that have been to St. Maarten a number of times understand that La Samanna is the most exclusive resort in all of St. Maarten. One would think that would make this hotel our number one choice. However, when we make our ratings we try and rate according to trips that aren’t necessarily catered to only the super rich. However, should you be able to afford this gem, by all means do so! Here is their website.

#3 - Grand Case Beach Club

Grand Case (pronounced K-Ah-ss) is located on the French side so if you want some good eats you might want to check out this resort. Plus, feel free to stroll around nude! In all seriousness though, this is a wonderful place. Take this snippet from their website: “The Grand Case Beach Club is one of the few intimate beachfront properties on St. Martin. We are just steps away from the quaint village of Grand Case, on the northwest coast of the French side of the island. Escape to Grand Case and feel truly secluded, but also find duty-free shopping, first-class dining, nightlife and casinos just a short drive away” Sounds good to us!

#4 - Oyster Bay Beach Resort

No we’re not talking about Long Island here From their website: “Perched on a palm-dotted promontory and surrounded by Dawn Beach and Oyster Pond is St. Maarten’s most private and distinctive hideaway – Oyster Bay Beach Resort.” Don’t you love the word “Perched?” Pretty solid round of reviews as well.

#5 - Westin St. Maarten, Dawn Beach Resort and Spa

We haven’t found too many Westin’s that we didn’t like and this Starwood Hotel spot does not disappoint. The Starwood Website shows gorgeous pictures and this Phillipsburg palace is more than adequate if you want to relax and have a great time.

*That’s not all right? Of course not! There are over 80 great hotels in St. Maarten and Trip Advisor lists them all. Also be sure to check out Cheap Caribbean.

Restaurants

#1 -Spiga Restaurant, Grand Case

Spiga is located at the quiet northern end of Grand Case, away from mid-village crowds and noise. As you can see it’s a quaint little place but little will you know how amazing the food is. Travel guy’s parents, who have been frequenting St. Maarten for over 20 years as well as Roland Richardson, the most well known Artist in St. Maarten always say “it’s some of the best food you’ll ever have.” Here’s a link to their website.

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#2 - Saratoga, Simpson Bay

“Situated on the waterside at the Simpson Bay Yacht Club Marina, Saratoga has become a St. Maarten Institution for casual fine dining”…at least according to their website. But don’t just take our word for it. Travel Guy’s parents have stated that it’s simply amazing. We’re having a tough time finding reviews but we’ve heard that it’s a hands down must eat place in St. Maarten.

#3 - Le Bec Fin, Simpson Bay

Don’t be confused with the one in Phildelphia! Though we can’t really see confusing downtown Philly for St. Maarten. Unfortunately Le Bec Fin’s website is being upgraded right now but there’s still some great information on ti. Here’s a customer review from Igougo.

#4 - Mario’s Bistro, Sandy Ground Bridge

Just ask this snorkeler what they found out about Mario’s Bistro: “Our snorkeling instructor told us that if you ask anyone who comes here often or lives here that Mario’s is one of the top three restaurants on the island. During the busy season (which is pretty much year-round except for hurricane season), you have to call weeks in advance to get a reservation here. But in mid-September, we walked right in and had the best table in the place.” Here’s Mario’s Website.

#5 - Tropicana, Marina Port La Royale

From what we hear, the best pommes frites in the world! Well, I guess we’re sold

* We have to give you a few more recommendations as five just doesn’t do justice for St. Maarten. Bear in mind we have great sources including Roland Richardson, the island’s best known artist. Honorable mention goes to Le Chaniclair in Marina Port la Royal, Le Tastevin in Boulevard de Grand Case, and Le Montmarte in Atlantis World Casino. And that’s not all folks. Check out these sites for more cuisine: Villaparadijs, Hot Carib, SXM Restaurants

Fun things to do

When most of us talk about the Caribbean we think of sun, tans, beaches and doing NOTHING. And while the obvious swimming, pina colada and daiquiris, and being waited on hand and foot is what we want and certainly deserve on our vacations, it’s nice to get up do some stuff….isn’t it? Maybe? Please?

#1 - Prickly Pear Snorkeling Trip

Certainly there are tons of snorkeling trips available in most any Caribbean Island but Prickly Pear is one of if not the best in St. Maarten. “Prickly Pear Cay is a small uninhabited island located off the west coast of St Maarten. The crystal clear water and pristine beaches offer an exceptional day trip. The island offers a brief sense of solitude and how life would be on an immaculate deserted island. There are two restaurants and a bar which are serviced by staff who come in each day from the mainland of Anguilla.” We highly recommend the day trip. In addition to what you just read, here’s some more info from Prickly’s Page.

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#2 - The Butterfly Farm

First we’d recommend checking out their website. When we first thought of this place we weren’t all that sold on the idea. Seeing a bunch of insects didn’t sound too alluring. However, if you’re with kids it’s definitely a place to visit. Here are some reviews.

#3 - Pinel Island

We researched a bunch of sites for this one and take the Trip Advisor Reviews as proof that this is a place worth visiting. Here’s some more information about the location.

#4 - Fly Zone on French Side

MSNBC did a feature on this amazing excursion and we recommend viewing it. It’s a crazy adventure amongst a forest of tropical trees and wilderness. At the least, it’s a wild ride! The tour is located in Loterie farm. And here we thought the Caribbean is all beaches and pina coladas. Guess not!

#5 - Art Galleries

OK, so you’ve gone nuts. You relaxed, you stuffed your belly and you’ve even thrown yourself on a zip line located in a tropical forest. What in the world can you do next? How about settling down and looking at some art? St Maarten offers tons of galleries and we’d recommend Roland Richardson as a first stop. He’s nicknamed “The Father of Caribbean Impressionism” and we feel his work speaks for itself. Here’s a Yahoo Search we did on galleries in St Maarten. Check it out!

* We’ve also heard that the Pirates of St. Maarten Day Cruise is fun as well as the St. Maarten 12 Metre Challenge. For more activities and places to see in St Maarten we recommend visiting St Maarten’s homepage.

Conclusion

If we haven’t packed you with enough information and choices on St. Maarten then just indulge us and tell us that we have. There’s gotta be at least 100 things to choose from in this article. At the least you’ll be fed like kings and queens. We hope you make the trip to this wonderful place. Pick up some art, snorkel a little and be sure to stuff yourself good!

I may be a biased person but if you were to ask me flat out, “Where is your favorite place to vacation in the US?” I will always reply with “Sedona, Arizona.” They say it’s the Red Rocks. They say the minerals give off a positive energy. Look, whatever it is, whether you are spiritual or not, in the two times I’ve been to Sedona I distinctly remember simply being in a great mood the entire trip. The air is incredibly crisp and even on the truly hot days it’s tolerable simply because of how magnificent the scenery is. Simply walk a mile in any direction and you can climb a mountain, drink from a stream and even see some wildlife. This city is rich with culture yet has some amazing restaurants and an endless supply of things to do. For a better look at the city as a whole we’d recommend you take a look at Visit Sedona and Sedona’s Chamber of Commerce. While most people think of the Grand Canyon as a part of the Arizona visit, we’ve left it out because it’s located in Flagstaff, about a two hour drive from Sedona (and well worth the trip if you plan on spending the day there…and take a helicopter ride!). Anyway, let’s take a closer look.

Accommodations

#1 - Adobe Grand Villas

Given that we’re a couple and given that this hotel comes up virtually everywhere as a crowd favorite, we decided to give Adobe Grand Villas the number one spot. Nestled at the base of the majestic Thunder Mountain and cocooned by red-rock formations in Sedona, this hotel has an amazing blend of both scenery and location. Everything you need to do is located within 3 miles of the hotel. In addition the Adobe Grand Villas features 12 uniquely decorated private villas. Thematic decor includes Tuscan, Spanish, pueblo and a fantasy garden. Don’t take our word. Check out a full description at Hotels.com as well as read the countless positive reviews from Trip Advisor. I honestly couldn’t find a review that rated the hotels appearance as anything but spectacular. Every person couldn’t wait to get back. Also to view more photos you can check out their website as well as see guest taken pictures on the Trip Advisor link we provided.

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# 2 - L’Auberge de Sedona

Ready for a romantic getaway? I guess you have to figure on that with a French name like that right? Just kidding….or am I? Seriously though, when we researched this hotel we must have seen the word “honeymoon” 100 times. Be sure to check out their website as well as some Trip Advisor reviews. If it’s just you and your special someone, the L’Auberge is a solid choice.

#3 - Enchantment Resort, Mii Amo Spa

From their website: “Arizona’s beautiful red-rock country, Mii amo takes its name from the Native American word for Journey…reflecting the life-enhancing experience of achieving a transformation in physical health, emotional well-being and spiritual renewal.” Travel and Leisure readers rated this the number one Destination Spa in the world. Enough said.

#4 - Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa

It’s pretty tough to go wrong with a Hilton…well unless that Hilton begins with Paris. Me and the Travel Girl actually passed by this place while driving in Sedona and after doing some more research it’s worth the reservation. Here is their Sedona Website. We’ve also heard the term “best massage ever!” if that means anything!

* Had enough? We didn’t think so. As if this article hasn’t made you fall in love with Sedona yet, there are plenty of gorgeous places to stay at. Here are a few more places to look for lodging in this fantastic city. Check out Trip Advisor’s List and Sedona.net for your fill.

#5 - Sedona Rouge Hotel and Spa

If you pony up the funds, might I suggest one of their four Andalusia suites. If not, one of the 77 other rooms will more than suffice. Here’s their website for more info.

Restaurants

Like many Southern states, Arizona is no exception when it comes to steak. If you go to any “meat oriented” type of restaurant you can be rest assured that you’ll be getting a good cut of meat. However, we were surprised at the amazing quality of Italian food located in Sedona. I can’t deny that our featured restaurant is a Steak House, but let’s just say there’s some good eats in this city!

#1 - Savannah’s

Our featured restaurant is Savannah’s. We, I repeat we went to this restaurant and both of us agreed that it was far and away the best Filet Mignon we’d ever had. To get a look at their menu and to find out more about the restaurant be sure to check out Savannah’s Website. And don’t just take our word for it. Read some of these reviews.

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#2 - Dahl and Deluca Cucina Rustica

Think “extremely inexpensive” and “lots of garlic.” I remember going to this place and getting an unbelievable meal with the Travel girl. Entrees, appetizers, two glass of wine and the bill was under 70 dollars. I’ll take that any day of the week! Check out these Yahoo! Reviews.

#3 - Heartline Cafe

The Heartline Café is located in the heart of Sedona Arizona, Red Rock country,
Heartline Café has the finest ingredients, affordable prices, breathtaking gardens, and delightful staff.” We’ll see about that! For more information here is their website.

#4 - Rene at Tlaquepaque

I just love to say “Tlaquepaque,” don’t you. Tuh Lock Eee Pock Ee! We’ll explain what this glorious village is in “fun things to do” but in the meantime they have a wonderful restaurant called Rene. Here is Rene’s Website. The only negative we’ve seen is that it might be a long wait, but it’s well worth it!

#5 - L’Auberge Restaurant on Oak Creek

We’ve already gone over this hotel. Great hotel? Great restaurant. Here’s a closer look .

* We know that there aren’t only five restaurants in Sedona. We just found these these are five of the best restaurants in Sedona. There are plenty of Pizza Huts and Taco Bells for the mid day snack. There’s also a HUGE supermarket with very cheap meats if you end up at a hotel room with a kitchen. Here’s a list of 71 more restaurants for your perusal.

Fun Things To Do

#1 - Bell Rock

There’s an awful lot to do in Sedona and while it’s really tough to choose one activity above the rest, Bell Rock deserves this spot. We chose Bell Rock for a few reasons. When you’re in Sedona you can’t help but to be amazed by the scenery and even if you’re not too “outdoorsy” there’s this little kid in you that feels like being out there with the canyons and rocks. While in Sedona you’ll see tons of trails with difficulty levels, etc etc. So take the outdoors, rocks, incredible views, an easy trail and you’ve got Bell Rock. Here’s a great page dedicated to describing Bell Rock.

More Pictures: This is the Travel Guy and the Travel Girl from Bell Rock.

#2 - Hot Air Balloon Ride

There were two things said to us when we got to Sedona. OK maybe three. “Have you been to Sedona?” “Have you been to the Grand Canyon?” If we answered “yes” to the Grand Canyon the next question was “Have you been on a Hot Air Balloon ride here? Needless to say we did not but we’ve heard amazing things. There are a couple great companies that offer rides in Sedona. One is Arizona Balloon Works and the other is Northern Light Balloon.

# 3 - Energy Vortexes

Remember how I mentioned being in a good mood in Sedona? They say much of it comes from these Vortexes or specific points in the land. It’s actually quite interesting. Here’s some more Vortex Information. We highly recommend checking this out.

#4 - Helicopter Ride

When Travel Girl and I went to the Grand Canyon, we took a Helicopter ride and have to say it was probably the best thing we did in Arizona. It only felt like 30 seconds but when we flew over the Canyon is was such a rush. Now this article isn’t about the Grand Canyon but believe me, being in a helicopter amongst the red rocks in Sedona is something you must see for yourself.

# 5 - Tlaquepaque Village

We’ve talked about a restaurant here and now we’ll tell you about the village. Tlaquepaque is a beautiful little “outlet” if you will. There you’ll find countless art galleries and shops. It’s a great tourist place but at the same time you don’t feel too “touristy” when you’re there. Check out the main website.

Honorable Mention: Pink Jeep Tours

* Again, we didn’t mention the Grand Canyon because it’s technically not in Sedona. However should you be in Sedona for 5 days or more we highly recommend taking one of those days and spending it at the Grand Canyon.

Conclusion

Sedona is a phenomenal spot and we do hope that you visit there at least once. I’ve been there twice and fully intend on going at least another two times. I can’t explain it. There’s just something about that place. You just can’t be in a bad mood there. Hopefully this article will get you started on the right track. Happy trails!

More Photos of Sedona

Welcome to N’Awlins! Those of you who are thinking of visiting this wonderful city can take comfort in the fact that we’ve been there and yours truly lived there for four years (yeah, like that makes me an expert!) To learn more about the city, be sure to visit New Orleans’ City Website. We’ve combed through all the travel sites and all of the city sites to come up with a great guide to having a memorable trip in this laid back, fun city. First, where are you going to stay?

Accommodations

While the French Quarter has well over 100 hotels to choose from, we chose 5 that particularly stand out. Each is affordable and each offer something unique depending on the kind of traveler you are.

#1. Le Pavillon

Le Pavillon, our featured hotel, is located in the heart of downtown New Orleans. The hotel sits adjacent to the historic French Quarter, only five short blocks to the celebrated music clubs of Bourbon Street and the famous restaurants and antique shops of Royal Street. Currently Le Pavillon sits atop the rankings of 154 French Quarter hotels as being a favorite amongst Trip Advisor members. It ranks as a 4 and 5 star hotel (depending on the rating site) and rooms can be had for as little as $99 a night. Be sure to view Le Pavillon’s Website as well as read some of the Trip Advisor Customer Reviews.

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You can also view more pictures in La Pavillon’s Virtual Tour.

#2 - The Lafayette Hotel - Be sure to check out Expedia’s page for more information on the Lafayette. We’ve seen it featured on numerous sites about New Orleans and it’s easily a traveler’s favorite.

# 3 - Omni Royal New Orleans - If you are looking for luxury then the Omni is a great place to check out. For more information be sure to check out Omni’s Homepage as well as customer reviews from Trip Advisor.

#4 - Hotel Maison De Ville - With only 23 rooms this is a romantic getaway. Located in the heart of the French Quarter you can’t mistake this hotel with any other. Built in 1742, this hotel has plenty to enjoy. It’s a bit pricier but some say well worth it. Be sure to read more about it.

#5 - Hilton New Orleans Riverside - Another 5 star luxury hotel, the Hilton never seems to fail. Check out Hilton’s website for more details.

If you’d like to check out all 154 hotels feel free to check out the list of Trip Advisor’s most popular hotels in New Orleans. We just thought we’d do the dirty work for you

Restaurants

Perhaps what New Orleans is best known for (other than Mardi Gras) is the fantastic food that is cooked down there. I happened to attend college at Tulane so I’m a little biased, but having grown up in New York I can honestly say the food in this city rivals the best food anywhere in the world. We’ve selected five amazing finds located in the French Quarter. If you make it down there you must go to at least one (for us! please!)

#1 - Brennan’s Restaurant

As a person who considers himself a steak man it’s tough to recall every great steak you’ve ever eaten but I always remember having a steak at 9AM at Brennan’s and it being one of the best I’ve ever had. Known for their Bananas Foster this French Quarter Restaurant is by far one of the best. They’ve also got a 35,000 bottle wine cellar and received the coveted Wine Spectator grand award. Be sure to visit their website and give it a try!

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#2 - Louis XVI - We’ve heard their Boeuf Wellington is one of the best around. You can check out a New Orleans Restaurant page for a full description and menu. Don’t just take our word for it!

#3 - Antoine’s - I don’t think I’ve ever had better Seafood than I had at Antoine’s. Opened in 1840 this French-Creole landmark will not disappoint. For more information on Antoine’s be sure to check out their website.

#4 - Arnaud’s - This one is a classic. Every Tulane student we’ve ever met has been there and there’s zero chance you won’t like this place. The Filet Mignon is phenomenal. Here’s some more information on Arnaud’s.

#5 - Commander’s Palace - Nestled in the middle of the Garden District is this outstanding restaurant featuring Creole and American cuisine. The jazz brunch on Sundays is one of the best around. For more information, check this out.

*You didn’t think we’d stop here did we? Of course we know about Emeril’s and the many other restaurants located in the heart of the French Quarter. Here are a few websites that can further help you decide which kind of cuisine wets your appetite the most: New Orleans Restaurants, 10 Best, and Frommers.

Fun Things to do

It’s pretty much a given that you’re going to end up having a fun time in New Orleans. Whether you want to get your palms read, try on some beads, listen to Jazz or attend a horse race, there are limitless activities in this historical city. Below we’ll list a few that are musts.

#1 - Mardi Gras

If you live in the United States, at one point in your life you’ve got to experience Mardi Gras. Sure it’s annoying on Bourbon Street because you can’t move an inch to save your life, but it’s worth doing just once. It’s worth seeing the phenomenal parades, the flashing, the beads. We promise you there is no experience like it. In fact it’s less than a month away! Start planning your Mardi Gras ASAP.

#2 - Jazz Fest - While Mardi Gras gets the most press, we haven’t seen a time in New Orleans more highly regarded than Jazz Fest. It’s an incredible musical ride filled with culture, free spirits and smiling faces. It’s close to impossible to count the amount of bands to see, people to meet, and good times to be had. Here are a few sites to get you started: Nojazzfest, Jazz Fest Live, and New Orleans Jazz Fest.

# 3 - Have a Hurricane - Not that we condone drinking But in all seriousness you can’t possibly visit the French Quarter without at least heading over to Pat O’Briens to sip one of their famous Hurricane drinks. To find out more visit Pat O’s website.

#4 - Harrah’s Casino - I was in college when this place opened and if you have a crazy night out perhaps you can try your luck at Harrah’s. It’s the only big casino in town and it’s a whole lot of fun (as long as you are winning).

#5 -Swamp Tours - If you’re interested in seeing a couple of sharp teeth in the water the alligators won’t bother you too much. We highly recommend getting on a swamp tour and experiencing the nature that is New Orleans. Located conveniently close to the quarter you can book a tour in a matter of minutes. Here’s some help to get you started.

Well, that’s certainly not all. While these five things are a great place to start, we’ve found numerous resources to help better navigate you through this fantastic place. You can try Radio Logs 12 best things to do, 142 things to do in New Orleans, and Viators New Orleans Page.

Conclusion

Hopefully we’ve packed you with enough information to get you started on your experience in one of the most historic and fun cities in the United States. No hurricanes are going to stop this city from continuing to flourish and be home to an amazingly rich culture and heritage. Bons Temps!

Welcome to our site! “We Rate Vacations” strives to be one of the best resources for finding great vacations online. Each week you’ll get to see a wonderful vacation spot packed with information on the best accommodations, food, and fun things to do in that given destination. We’ve compiled our information from some of the most relied upon websites including Trip Advisor, Expedia, and Travelocity, just to name a few. We’ll also provide extra links to interesting articles and resources to further your reach into the destinations we provide. Enjoy!