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The Search for Paradise

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We want you to win a trip to Paradise!

Again we want to give you the chance to win a 7-night stay at the hotel you find. Plus, you’ll also win a GoPro HD photographic camera to take pictures!

We want you to win so, we’re making it easy! We are giving you clues throughout the game.

How can YOU win?

  • You’re not a facebook fan yet, “LIKE” us HERE

  • Click on the contest tab The Search for Paradise

  • We’ll give you some clues. It will be on the left side of your screen.

  • You can move & zoom in and out of the map to search for the hotel.

The 1st person that finds the hotel WINS!!!! You have two chances to win per day.

Good luck!

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

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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”

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)

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“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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IBEROSTAR New Website Contest

Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Mystery Guest - (3 Comments)

We’re so excited to tell you that we launched the new www.iberostar.com website!  Have you had a chance to look at it? What do you think?

Since we are celebrating here at Iberostar, we want YOU to join us! So, we are giving you the chance to win a free hotel stay. You’ll qualify for a chance to win a stay at the Iberostar Anthelia, Tenerife or Playa Bavaro in Punta Cana!

We want you to win so, we’re making it easy!  To get the correct answer you can browse the new website and find them.

How can YOU win?

- You’re not a facebook fan yet, “LIKE” us HERE
 – Click on the contest tab “NEW WEBSITE”
-  Just answer the 3 questions correctly about our new site.

We want you to win so, we’re making it easy!  To get the correct answer you can browse the new website and find them.

Good luck!

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PIÑA COLADA

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Photo by: DeaPeaJay

Pina Colada

The piña colada Cocktail was a drink created in San Juan Puerto Rico.  Piña colada is the official drink of Puerto Rico. It’s a sweet, rum-based cocktail made with rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice, usually served either blended or shaken with ice.  

The secret is to choose the best ingredients to have a great refreshing drink.

Ingredients
8 people

  • 1 liter (4 cups) of fresh pineapple juice
  • 250 ml coconut cream (Rum)
  • Ice
  • Rum (Optional)

 Optional: Add a few drops of vanilla.

 Preparation:

Put the ice, pineapple juice, coconut cream, and the white or dark rum into a blender. Blend until smooth and frosty. Pour the drink into the glasses and garnish the rim with pineapple slices.

Photo | DeaPeaJay on Flickr

A sip of the delicious authentic piña colada may have you booking one of the Iberostar Hotels in the Caribbean before you finish the drink!

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Interview:Wedding Planner in Jamaica

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We’ve asked Janielle Feurtado to share some of her insights on Destination Weddings in Jamaica.

For people who may not be familiar with you or your work, can you share a bit about yourself, your background, and how you came to be the wedding planner for Iberostar in Jamaica.

 My name is Janielle Feurtado I am 22yrs old. As a child I always found great joy in making people happy.  Hence growing up I realized that the hospitality Industry was the place for me.  After working as the assistant wedding coordinator for another chain of resorts I established that I could make it my career. After all I do possess the profound ability of interaction. Since assuming the my position at the Iberostar Grand Rose Hall, I have grown as an individual and have better been able to fulfill every feasible request for my brides and grooms even their  knack for fine detail.

Tell us about the “Grand Promises” package. What does it include, what are the options?

The “Grand Promises” Is a legal ceremony package and is considered as an upgrade from the basic “Promises” package. It covers from 2-10 persons. In taking advantage of this package you will receive amenities upon arrival as well as the day of your wedding special bridal services at the Spa are also included. Please see attached package for further inclusions. How many couples take advantage of the package each year? At least 50-60 couples per year.

Would it be possible to ask a couple of questions of a recently married couple? 

Yes it would be possible to contact a pass couple.  You can contact Mr. & Mrs. Whannell (mandykmuse@gmail.com  for Amanda or mwhannell@gmail.com for Micheal).

How far in advance do you recommend couples book to get their chosen date?

I recommend that as soon as a couple has a specific season or month in mind they start shopping for their desired dates. As “dates go real fast “time which is the most popular month for weddings at the resort?  The month that I would say is the most popular month is July.

How many wedding venues are available on property, what are they, and which is the most popular?

Here at the Grand we have 4 Wedding Locations;

  • The Beach-accommodates up to 200 persons, most popular location
  • The Lobby Terrace- accommodates up to 80 persons. This area is mostly used by brides who want to have the ocean as the back drop in their photos, but not having to deal with sand in their shoes.
  • The Garden Terrace- accommodates up to 20person. This location provides a naturistic atmosphere for those brides who love the “green feel”
  • The Dome- accommodates up to 100 persons. This location is used as a backup location for our weddings in the case of rain. Overtime we have had an influx of brides choosing it as their wedding location. It is ideal for those brides who desire a cathedral feel.

 What’s the most unusual request you’ve had for a wedding package?

The most unusual request…I would have to say would, to have our “Grand Promises package used as the complimentary package. To built a board walk from the stairway leading up the Ach on the beach in order for the couple not to walk on the sand.

Can you share with us a particularly special moment you remember from a wedding on site? And/or a memorable quote or thank-you note you received from a happy couple?

The most memorable moment for me at a wedding was on Oct 21, 2011. When the bride broke in tears after cutting her cake and realizing that it was her favorite cake. The most memorable quote would be “ Janielle laid every petal on the aisle as if each petal had its own place and had to be perfect.”

If you’re planning a Destination Wedding at the IberoStar Hotel in Jamaica don’t hesitate to call Janielle Feurtado. She’ll go above and beyond to make your wedding day perfect!

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What would your #StarRoom look like?

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Isn’t Friday the best day of the week?
Well, we want to celebrate with a new Twitter contest!

What would your #StarRoom look like?

Enter to win a stay at one of our hotels.  In 92 characters, tell us what your perfect #StarRoom would be. (We’re talking about your ideal room, worthy of a star like you) and you might win a stay at one of our hotels.

We’re choosing 7 winners. 6 will be chosen for best description of their room and the 7th will be chosen randomly. SIGN-UP HERE!

Remember to follow us on twitter. Good Luck!

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That Memorable Meal

Posted by Zipporah Sandler in Mystery Guest - (0 Comments)

I define a place by its food. If I visit and have an extraordinary meal, I’ll be back. If all I can find are chains and fast food restaurants, it doesn’t matter how blue the ocean is, it will be my last time.  I can tell you exactly what I ate on my first date with my husband or a fun night out with friends. When I think of my favorite cities, I can smell the food from the best restaurants that makes local delicacies in my memory long after I leave

That being said, I love the option of Iberostar’s Dine Around plan that allows me to visit an array of restaurants within an IBEROSTAR complex. For example, guests at the IBEROSTAR Paraíso Lindo or at the Paraíso Maya, both within the Playa Paraíso IBEROSTAR complex have sixteen restaurants to choose from , including eleven offering à la carte delights ranging from Cajun, Italian and gourmet cuisine to international specialties at El Fogón restaurant.

Being able to choose between traditional international dishes or local delicacies, deli fare at a resort buffet or sumptuous à la carte theme restaurants located at the Grand Resorts means that my vacation is sure to be memorable. I can always find exactly what I’m craving whether it be Teppenyaki at the Japanese Restaurant on Tuesday at IBEROSTAR’S Grand Hotel Rose Hall or a sizzling steak at the Steak House Restaurant at IBEROSTAR Rose Hall Beach.

Resorts featuring Dine Around

 Sure I’ll remember snorkeling in the aqua ocean, that sybaritic massage at the spa, and relaxing on the beach…but, I’ll still be able to tell you about the fabulous  Mediterranean meal  I had on Wednesday, January 4th, at the Restaurant Manolete at the Iberostar Royal Andalus hotel.

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Quinoa Salad

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For all who want to enjoy restaurant food at home, today we’re giving you another recipe: “Quinoa Salad”. A simple recipe, light and above all very, very healthy.

We hope you enjoy it.

Serves 4

100 g of quinoa
25 g of goji berries
1 leek
1 red pepper
1 carrot
70 g of oyster mushrooms
100 g of sprouts varied
½ dl olive oil
Sesame oil
Soy sauce
Pepper and Salt

Directions:

  • Cook the quinoa in a pot with water and salt for 25 minutes.
  • Once the quinoa is cooked, drain and add refresh water in a strainer.
  • Put the olive oil and sesame oil in a skillet and sauté all the vegetables cut into squares (except the berries) you want to leave them al dente.
  • Put the quinoa in a bowl and add the vegetables and berries.
  • Season it with soy sauce and some pepper.
  • To place on a dish, you can put the quinoa in a pan mold and garnish with sprouts sprinkled on top.

NOTE: The Goji Berry is a small red berry produced by the Lycium Barbarum plant, which is native to certain remote regions of China, Tibet, and Mongolia. Goji fruit is one of the most beneficial and nutritious for the body. You can find them in health food stores.

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