It was an invite to Sandals OCHI all-inclusive resort in Jamaica for their grand re-opening.

I could hardly believe it. Most of the travel I arrange on my own with only a few press trips thrown in over the course of a year.

This press trip invite was my first international invite and I was over the moon.

What I didn’t know then was how much I was going to be able to relax and recharge at Sandals OCHI Resort.

READ: What You Need To Know Before You Go

Usually, press trips are packed from sun up to sun down with back to back activities, but during this trip the resort wanted us to explore and enjoy the property.

Great move on their part as I was able to use the resort, just as any other guest would, giving me a great non-press experience.

Alan and I spent 4 nights relaxing under the Jamaican sun, eating delicious food, enjoying cocktails and just absorbing the wonderful culture of Sandals OCHI resort.

This was our very first all-inclusive experience and even though there were a few bumps along the way we quickly adjusted to resort life. By day 2 I was fully enjoying Sandals OCHI all-inclusive resort.

Sandals OCHI is the largest Sandals property at 100 acres and offers three distinct sections and 16 different room categories.

Honestly, the hardest choice you’ll have to make is what room category you’d like and I’m pretty sure you can’t go wrong with any of them.

There are numerous pools on the property and a very nice beach giving a variety of locations to cool off or just sit and enjoy the sun and outdoors.

16 restaurants and 11 bars made sure we were never hungry or thirsty and when we didn’t feel like going out we ordered room service which was included with our stay.

WHERE TO STAY, EAT, DRINK AND PLAY AT

WHERE TO STAY AT SANDALS OCHI

Accommodations are offered on both the beach side and the hillside of the resort.

Each offers something different and with 16 different categories, there are rooms to fit every budget.

Beachside rooms offer quick access to the beach while hillside villas come with butler service.

A complete list of all the rooms and prices available at Sandals OCHI all-inclusive resort can be found by clicking here.

Rooms start at $230 per person and go up to $431 per person for the Romeo and Juliet suites that are fantastic for a honeymoon!

The Romeo and Juliet suites include an enclosed private pool and sitting room and is located on the hillside, all-butler village.

We had a room with a semi-private pool, shared with our neighbors, which worked out perfectly.

It was nice being able to step from our room to the pool for a quick dip in the evening.

WHERE TO EAT

Jerk, Italian, Sushi, Mediterranean, American and more await to tempt your taste buds at Sandals OCHI resort.

There are so many great restaurants and with our short stay, we only had the opportunity to try a few of them.

For breakfast, most of the restaurants are buffet style but there are two, Valentino’s and Le Gourmand, that offer a la carte style ordering.

The restaurants are scattered around the resort that opens during different times of the day to ensure you have something to eat when you are hungry.

We really enjoyed Kimonos (reservations required) which is only opened for dinner and food is prepared teppanyaki style.

Valentino’s offers great water views, white table covers and very attentive staff that greets you by name.

For a quick and easy snack or lunch, we would visit Tapas on the Riviera which is located on the beach side.

The beachside also has the Sky Vista restaurant which offers such pretty views of the ocean with both indoor and outdoor seating.

WHERE TO DRINK AT SANDALS OCHI

Eleven bars are strategically placed around the resort ensuring you are never far from your next cocktail.

The resort offers guests premium, top-shelf liquors as part of their stay.

Enjoy drinks made with Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniels, Crown Royal and many more.

Ask your bartender to make you their specialty drink.

I enjoyed a variety of cocktails including Bob Marley, Superman, Nonya (named so because the waitress wouldn’t/couldn’t tell us what it was so we dubbed it “nonya” business), Jamaican smile, rum punch, and a few others.

Sometimes I just kept it simple and had whiskey on the rocks. If you have a favorite drink, most likely, the bartenders can make it for you.

The first speakeasy in the Caribbean is at Sandals OCHI. A code word is required for entrance and changes daily. Simply ask a resort employee and they will share the word of the day with you.

My favorite bar is located next to SkyVista restaurant and overlooks the ocean. We enjoyed many cocktails and coffee from this bar while enjoying the views.

There are also a number of swim-up bars that make it convenient to enjoy a cocktail without ever having to get out of the water.

Needless to say, I enjoyed many cocktails during our visit.

WHERE TO PLAY AT SANDALS OCHI

ALL water sports are included with your stay at Sandals OCHI all-inclusive resort.

Want to go snorkeling? It’s included.

How about scuba diving? 2 tanks a day is part of your stay.

If you aren’t SCUBA certified you can become certified for an extra fee.

There is also kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding, glass bottom boat tours, water bikes and more are available at the Aqua Center.

Some of the water sports require reservations and only go out at select times so be sure to check the Aqua Center schedule and plan accordingly.

On Tuesdays and Sundays, outdoor movies are shown at 830pm.

The movie screen is on the lawn next to the Rabbit Hole Speakeasy and has a popcorn wagon stocked with movie treats.

Most of the pools on the property are part of villas, but there are still many large pools available for public use.

Be sure to find the hidden pool over near the amphitheater on the beach side. The pool at the OCHI Beach Club has a great swim up bar and is only a few steps from the ocean.

We would order drinks at the bar (1/2 the bar is poolside the other 1/2 is on dry land) and then wander over to the beach to enjoy our cocktail while watching pretty fish swim around.

There are activities and events happening around the resort throughout the day. Be sure to check the daily newsletter, available at the front desk, for a complete list of the day’s entertainment.

Play chess or take a siesta in a hammock. There are tennis courts, golf courses, fitness center,  piano bar, beach parties and so much more than I don’t have room to list are all included in your stay.

Want to relax more and play less? Book an oceanside massage with Red Lane Spa.

One thing I learned very quickly during my visit is that at Sandals OCHI there is no limit on fun.

If you are looking for an adults only vacation that offers delicious food, endless cocktails, and unlimited water and land sports look no further than the newly re-opened Sandals OCHI all-inclusive resort in Jamaica.

More importantly, if you want a vacation that allows you to return home relaxed and recharged I recommend considering Sandals OCHI Resort. I know we are already plotting and planning a return visit to a Sandals property.

For more details visit www.sandals.com/

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Escaping to Chula Vista for a few days of relaxing fun was well worth the drive to the Wisconsin Dells.

Chula Vista provides everything you could possible need on vacation so once you arrive you never have to leave the resort until it’s time to go home.

Our time there went by so quickly during our visit, but we enjoyed every minute of it. From delicious food to a spa visit to fun in the sun everyone enjoyed our mini getaway.

ACCOMMODATIONS

We stayed in a Villa during our visit to Chula Vista and it was perfect. It was a 2 room villa with kitchen, sitting area, and balcony. It was so comfy and gave us all plenty of room to spread out. The beds were incredibly comfy and we all slept very well at night.

A nice bonus to staying in a Villa is that you can prepare meals and snacks in the kitchen to save some money. The Villas over look the golf course and offer a nice relaxing view.

Other accommodations available include hotel room and condos.

The Villas are located right across the street from Chula Vista and is just a short walk over to the water park and resort. If you’re not up for the walk there is a shuttle that runs between the villas and the resort.

DINING

There are great dining options at the Resort. In the interest of a good review we tried most of them. Trust me, that was no hardship.

In season, there is Margarita’s Mexican Grill & Cantina by the wave pool with very tasty margaritas and Cactus Bar & Grill at the lagoon is a great option for outdoor drinks and snacks.

Other dining options include: Market Fresh Buffet, Big Moe’s Restaurant, Howler’s Sports Bar, Luigi’s Pizzeria, Market Fresh-To-Go, Crash Landings Snack Bar, and Kaminski’s Chop House. So many options you’ll never get bored.

We visited Margarita’s for drinks and chips which were so very good. The kids loved the non-alcoholic frozen drinks. We also grabbed sandwiches for dinner one night at Market Fresh-To-Go there is a nice selection of sandwiches that even appeased the pickiest of eaters in our group.

The best meal, hands down, was Kaminski’s Chop House where we a delectable meal was enjoyed by all of us. We ordered three different entrees so we could try a variety of their meals.

Shortly, after we placed our order and poured our wine the waitress brought a cart over to create our garbage salads. Now, trust me, it taste much better than it sounds. There are a variety of salad toppings that you select and your waitress tosses it all together and tops it with a garlic cream dressing that is fabulous.

Our entrees did not disappoint. They were huge servings though, you definitely need to consider sharing entrees. Sides are served family style and I think Kaminski’s thought the “family” was a family of 10. Mercy.

We ordered the loaded mashed potatoes to go with our entrees and they were so yummy, but we didn’t even come close to finishing them. No worries though, we grabbed the rest to go and had them for a late breakfast the next morning.

After enjoying a fabulous meal we ordered ONE dessert to go and shared it much later that evening. Another bonus for the Villa, we had a fridge for leftovers.

SPA

On our second day at Chula Vista I was treated to a Swedish massage at the spa. The spa is such a relaxing way to spend some quality time with numero uno. The only downside is that the 50 minutes flew by.

It seemed like it was just minutes and it was time to go back to reality. If you have the chance I really recommend making an appointment for some downtown.

WATER PARK

Of course, the best part of staying at Chula Vista is their awesome water park. With multiple pools, slides, and rides Chula Vista doesn’t disappoint. Plus, they have the country’s fastest indoor water coaster. I didn’t try the coaster, but I’ve heard it’s great fun.

(c)ChulaVista.com

There are two outdoor water park areas. The first, just off the indoor water park area, features lots of slides, a couple pools, a beach area complete with sand and lounge chairs, bar area, putt-putt golf, hair braiding, and more.

The other outdoor water park is the wave pool area and is located behind the condos and hotel and provides a very pretty view of the river.

The indoor water park houses the coaster, the lazy river, and lots of pools and slides. There is plenty of seating, lockers, towels, and a cafe.

Right next to the water park is the arcade with fun games for all and a cafe. Additional arcade games are located in the underground tunnel between the hotel and the water park. That is where you can also find the 4D theater.

There is so much to do at Chula Vista that two nights is just a taste, but it was two nights filled with lots of fun memories.

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Honestly the resort offers so many things to do year round that will make you want to visit every season.

The resort offers 36 holes of golf, a spa, a disc golf course, zip lining, indoor water park, tennis, horseback riding and, new this year, the SkyBridge Michigan!! 

Boyne Mountain Cabins and Hotel

Additionally, there is great food, nightlife, and comfortable lodging at mountain cabins or the Austrian themed hotel.

Once you arrive at the resort, park the car until check-out because everything you need is right here.

Enjoy More Things To Do In Michigan: The Ultimate List of Things To Do In Michigan

Boyne Mountain resort offers a number of restaurants that serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and lounges that provide nightlife entertainment.

I certainly appreciate the onsite nightlife so no driving is required after an evening of fun.

There are so many activities at Boyne Mountain Resort regardless of what season you visit.

For the sake of keeping this article a reasonable length, I’m going to focus on summer activities, but an entire list of all activities is available on the website.

Boyne Mountain Activities

SkyBridge Michigan

Let’s start with the brand new Skybridge! Just like the bridge in Gatlinburg, TN, the Skybridge at Boyne offers incredible views and a one-of-a-kind opportunity! Y’ll know how I love “world’s largest” things, which is another reason to visit the SkyBridge at Boyne.

Opening to rave reviews this past fall, SkyBridge Michigan, the world’s longest timber-towered suspension bridge, can be experienced year round. 

In addition to taking in the sights, upon crossing the bridge, fire pits and a food trailer offer the chance to extend the bridge experience. 

The Hemlock chairlift will exclusively serve pedestrian foot traffic heading to the bridge with pricing available for adults, seniors, and juniors (kids ages two and under are free).  

Scenic Overlook

Take a chairlift to the scenic overlook for a lovely view of the resort and beyond.

Play a scavenger hunt with the kids and try to find this sign at the resort.

Zip Line

Fly through the treetops and across the pond on the zip line course.

Hike

Take a hike on the resort’s 4,000 acres.

Golf

Enjoy golf on a world-class course that has fantastic views.

Indoor Water Park

Enjoy the 88,000 square foot indoor water park.

Arcade

Play skeet ball or drive a race car at the arcade that has over 50 games.

Additional Activities

• Deer Lake beach
• Fritz’s Adventure Camp for kids 3-12
• Disc Golf
• Bonfires
• Make s’mores over a campfire
• Horseback rides
• Tennis
• Mountain biking

Spa & Salon

If you’d like to relax a while Solace Spa & Salon is open year round and has been named one of the best spas in the world by Spa Magazine.

Enjoy a variety of whirlpools, cedar saunas, purifying steam rooms, heated indoor/outdoor pools, training and fitness facilities, pilates studio, and a full-service salon.

Additionally, there is a full menu of spa treatments. This summer they have Watermelon Cucumber treatments that sound absolutely wonderful. “Walk out feeling crisp and deliciously sweetened with a hydrating body milk application of green melon and natural cucumber extracts.” Yes, please!

There are plenty of summer days to enjoy Boyne Mountain Resort. Take a few days out and enjoy all that Boyne Mountain Resort has to offer.

To make a reservation or learn more about the resort click here.

More information on the area can be found at Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau.

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