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Get away from the cold with IBEROSTAR

noviembre 12th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Mystery Guest | THE WORLD OF IBEROSTAR - (0 Comments)

Get away from the cold with IBEROSTAR

Listen to Paul and picture yourself on a paradisiacal Caribbean beach – a world away from the freezing temperatures and icy winds blowing through your town. Leave your winter woollies behind and experience the pleasure of strolling barefoot along the fine sands of warm Caribbean beaches.

Just like Paul, you too can chill out on the shores of one of the world’s finest beaches in the Caribbean Sea, enjoying the IBEROSTAR way of life either alone or in the very best company, and have fun watching your friends and family turn a healthy shade of green.

Just think for a minute what you’d be doing if you were in Paul’s shoes. That’s right. You’d be having a fabulous holiday and enjoying the unique feeling that you’re the envy of your friends, family and acquaintances. And to make all this possible, here at IBEROSTAR we’ve come up with a campaign to let everyone know about the fabulous world of holidays with inclusive happiness. A 2.0 experience in which our guests share their thoughts, sensations, joy and love of life and fun with everyone

And to enable our guests to let everyone know about their unforgettable holiday experiences, IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts has organised a professional production team that films guests as they have fun on vacation with their friends and family, etc. Once recorded, the video-message is sent to the people of the guests’ choice, whilst the stars of these fabulous vacation experiences get on with having the time of their lives in the world’s finest destinations. But there’s more: via their webcams, we also get to see the receivers’ reactions when they open their message from a dream destination.

More info at www.iberostarconnection.com

The winner of the “Unexpected Holiday” contest is…

octubre 31st, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Mystery Guest - (0 Comments)

Do you want to know who the lucky winner of our “Unexpected Holiday” contest is?

 

Allison Cupid!

 

Congratulations Allison Cupid!  Her name was randomly drawn from all of the participants that recruited more than 3 new Facebook Fans for Iberostar English.

 

Prize: Iberostar Travel Kit

 

We will be in contact with our winner by email.

 

Thank you everyone for participating in our Facebook contest. Be on the lookout for more contests and special Iberostar offers!

 

 

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Winner: Like a Star

julio 10th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Mystery Guest | No category - (0 Comments)

Guess who enjoys life like a star!

Congrats to Susan Harrison. She’s the lucky winner of a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses!!


Don’t worry you still have two more chances to win. Keep checking out Fan Pages!

 

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Would you like to stay next door to Julio Iglesias?

julio 4th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Mystery Guest - (0 Comments)

Losing yourself on an endless beach of fine white sand bathed by the crystalline turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, enjoying the gentle caress of a sea breeze as you relax in the shade of endless rows of coconut palms, thrilling to the smooth rhythms of bachata and merengue, lingering as you take in the heady aromas of the world’s finest rums…If the answer is yes, then Playa Bávaro in the Dominican Republic is guaranteed to exceed all your expectations.

Declared by UNESCO as one of the world’s best beaches, together with other nearby beaches it forms part of the Costa del Coco, which stretches out for more than forty kilometres: endless fine white sands dotted with colourful chiringuitos (beach bars) serving tropical fruit and drinks as well as mouth-watering Creole dishes.

On Playa Bávaro you will find luxury homes for the super-rich including the singer Julio Iglesias or fashion designer Oscar de la Renta, as well as top-class resort hotels such as the IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Bávaro or the IBEROSTAR Bávaro, Dominicana and Punta Cana hotels, all five star establishments that are the perfect choice for the vacation of your dreams in a tropical setting that blends in perfectly with nature.

Playa Bávaro has a thousand faces, each with a perfect smile. There is a Playa Bávaro for adventure lovers with a passion for water sports; for those in search of rest and relaxation, with countless corners in which to chill out and experience the gentle caress of the waves; for those in search of fun, with its famous chiringuitos and their atmosphere of merengue and sensuality.

There are a thousand ways of enjoying Playa Bávaro. Choose yours.

 

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Recipe: Majarete

junio 26th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Mystery Guest - (0 Comments)


Majarete is a typical dessert in the Dominican Republic, although it’s also popular in other Latin American countries.  The principal ingredient is ‘corn’ and the original, rustic version consists of grated corncobs mixed with cow’s milk, grated or shredded dried coconut milk  and sweet spices such as cinnamon, allspice, sweet cloves or nutmeg, although these latter two are stronger and can give the majarete a bitter taste if too much is added.

Ingredients:

• 1 Coconut

• 1 cup of cornflower

• 1 cup of milk

• 1 tin of condensed milk

• 2 cups of warm water

• 250g of sugar

• 1 whole cinnamon stick

• Cinnamon powder and salt to taste

Preparation:

1. – Peel the coconut, removing the black rind until you obtain the white coconut flesh

2. – Cut the coconut flesh into pieces and blend it with a cup of warm water before straining to remove the milk.

3. – Remove what’s left in the colander and blend and strain again with the other cup of warm water to obtain two cups of milk.

4. – Dissolve the cornflower in the last cup of milk obtained from the coconut flesh, liquidise the flour and dissolve it in two cups of cow’s milk.

5. – Place on a low heat and add the cinnamon stick and salt.

6. – When it comes to the boil add the sugar, salt to taste and the first coconut milk.

7. – Leave it on the heat for approximately 15 minutes until it looks like a creamy atole drink.

8. – Pour into shallow moulds and allow to set.

When cold, sprinkle finely with cinnamon powder.

 

Photo |Carol Dandelion234

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BAKLAVA RECIPE

junio 11th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Mystery Guest - (0 Comments)


Baklava is one of Tunisia’s most exquisite traditional desserts. And to make it easy to prepare, we’ve got a special chef’s tip for you: if you haven’t got any rose water at home, you can replace it with the same amount – two spoonfuls – of orange blossom water.

 

Ingredients:

  • ½ kg of filo pastry (you can use flaky pastry instead, but the result is not the same)
  • 300 g of peeled, chopped nuts
  • 2 or 3 spoonfuls of sugar
  • A couple of spoonfuls of ground pistachios (optional)
  • Light syrup (made with sugar, a little water and cardamom beans)

Instructions:

  1. Grease a round mould that can be placed in the oven with sufficient oil or melted butter.
  2. Add a layer of filo pastry.
  3. Spread with oil or butter and add another layer.
  4. Repeat this process until there are 4-5 layers.
  5. Mix the sugar with the chopped nuts and place them on the pastry. Add a little more butter or oil.
  6. Add another 6-8 layers of filo pastry.
  7. Wet the palm of your hand with water and pass it over the pastry, and then spread with oil or butter.
  8. Using a sharp knife, score with a diamond or square pattern.
  9. Place the mould in a hot oven for 20 minutes, then reduce to a moderate heat until the dessert is golden brown.
  10. Remove from the oven and pour the syrup over the Baklava while it is still hot. You may decorate it with pistachios. Serve warm or cold.

 

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The Search for Paradise

mayo 14th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Mystery Guest - (1 Comments)

We gave away trips to  Paradise!

Many tried but only the quickest won! We want to congratulate the winners that found Paradise!

Casey Kurth, Christopher Munson, Karina Tsymbal, Leonor Blaya Martinez & Ashley Thomas !

We hope you’ll tell us all about your trip!
And the rest of you, don’t despair, guys. Stay tuned, because we’ve got a lot more great contests coming soon!

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Jamaican Me Married: Destination Weddings in Style at Iberostar Rose Hall Suites

mayo 10th, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Mystery Guest - (0 Comments)

I first started covering destination weddings more than a decade ago while working for Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel. Why budget travel? Because given the ballooning costs of holding a nice knot-tying even in your backyard, resort weddings can be surprisingly affordable, both allowing couples to better control costs as well as enjoy a luxurious experience (with or without guests) in a beautiful tropical setting.

Jamaica’s an especially popular place these days for couples to combine getting hitched with a great tropical honeymoon, and while many resorts offer destination weddings, I found that the elegant Rose Hall Suites near Montego Bay goes the extra mile to pull out all the stops for couples. The “Golden Coast Wedding” package not only provides the basics – marriage license, minister fees, wedding cake, champagne, decorated venue, and music of your choice – but great extras such as a couple’s massage at the beautiful on-property spa.

It’s a pretty simple process – you can show up just 24 hours before the ceremony (though it’s recommended that you come two or three days ahead to meet with the wedding planner and iron out the final details. I recently caught up with the planner at Rose Hall Suites, Nicole Barnett, to get the nups 911:

How did you come to your job here at the Rose Hall Suites?

I came to it in 2009 from the resort’s public relations department, and it has been fantastic. I enjoy the enthusiasm of people planning their weddings; it’s honestly been an amazing experience so far.

How far in advance do you recommend couples book?

The most popular months are March through July, but regardless of the month, I’d recommend that couples try to book their dates at least a year in advance.

How many spots on property are available as a wedding venue?

We have four locations for a wedding ceremony: the beach, the lobby terrace, the lazy river island, and the pool gazebo, plus a backup-plan location if it rains: our lobby staircase.

What’s the most unusual request you’ve had?

A bride who wanted me to rent a white horse for her to ride down the aisle.

Can you share with us a particularly special moment you remember from an on-site wedding?

The most memorable experience I have had was a Hindu wedding that lasted  for two whole days. They asked me to participate and I even got my hand painted! The most memorable wedding thank-you I have received  was from a special couple, Andrew and Jennifer Parker. They were so loving to each other, and instead of focusing on the materialistic aspect of the wedding, they gave me their ideas and left the planning  and organizing to me.  They were always concerned about ensuring that the family was included and taken care of. Despite their anxieties, they never lost sight of what was most important to them and that was their love for each other. In the end the wedding was beautiful and they thanked me ever so often by always sending emails from time to time to say how they are doing and to check on me.

by David Paul Appell

For more information, write to weddings@iberostar.com.jm or call 876-680-0000 extensions 1525 and 1516.

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Winner of the “New Website Contest”

mayo 3rd, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Mystery Guest - (0 Comments)

We’re so excited to tell you who won our Contest! But, before we get to the actual winner, here are the answers to our contest’s three questions:

  1. How many countries have an Iberostar Hotels & Resorts?  
    16

      2.   How many logos can you find in our Iberostar Hotels & Resorts homepage?
           7

      3.    What’s the image of the Iberostar destination shown on the header of this contest?
              Playa Bavaro, Dominican Republic

So, did you get ‘em all right?

Unfortunately there could only be one winner, chosen by random drawing.  A hearty congratulation to Keri Robertson! We hope you’ll tell us all about your trip!

And the rest of you, don’t despair, guys. Stay tuned, because we’ve got a lot more cool contests coming soon.

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Vanilla Flan (Vanilla Custard)

mayo 1st, 2012 | Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Mystery Guest - (0 Comments)

“Flan” is the Spanish name for vanilla egg custard, topped with caramel sauce. Flan makes a great finish to any meal because even though it is sweet, it is a light dessert.

  Ingredients for 4:

2.5 cups of milk
 100 g of sugar
 4 eggs
2 vanilla beans

 Caramel Ingredients

 150 g of sugar
1/4 tsp. of water

Directions:

Put a heavy skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the sugar. With a wooden spoon, keep the sugar moving constantly in skillet until sugar is completely melted, and of a rich medium brown color (caramelized). Pour the caramel into dish. 

In another saucepan boil the milk with the vanilla.  Meanwhile in a mixing bowl add the eggs beat slightly, Mix in the sugar. Stirring constantly, gradually add hot Milk. Pour the mixture into the dish that already has the caramel.

Place the filled casserole dish into a larger pan and add 1 inch of HOT water to the outer pan. Bake at 150 ° C for about 25 minutes.

Bon appetit!

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