It’s time to make your winter vacation plans for some place fun in the sun.
Did you know that you could have access to a high-end travel agent – and travel concierge – and not have to pay a fee for such an extraordinary service?
That’s the case with AdventurUS, a travel agency based in West Suffield, Connecticut, that serves clients in Fairfield, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk and Westport. With 21 agents on the team, CEO Kristi Upton said that the agency’s reach also includes Long Island as well as North Haven and Watertown, Connecticut.
Upton joined the agency in Georgia, where it was founded 11 years ago, and recently bought the business, becoming CEO and moving it to Connecticut. It’s an agency that prides itself on concierge services.
“That means my phone rings at 3 a.m.,” she added. “We are not 9 to 5, and we want to make travel easy for everyone. We are just a phone call away.”
Those frantic calls usually have to do with lost passports and fight delays, but even more simple questions as ‘Where is the public bathroom at the resort?’ she told us with a laugh. And sometimes even, clients have called her – instead of the on-site restaurant – to reschedule dinner reservations.
“We never say no,” Upton said. “Anyone can book Expedia. But we’re there for you 24/7.”
An example of such service took place during the holidays. “Over Christmas, I had a family in Antigua. Their plane coming from JFK was delayed. By the time the plane was ready to leave Antigua again, the crew was about to time out. I was able to get my clients rebooked and a hotel for the night before they were back in the terminal. It was literally the last hotel room on the island and the rest of the passengers were handed blankets to sleep in the airport. Since they had hired us, we were able to book them before they could even be stressed.”
By far, Upton’s favorite resorts are Sandals and Beaches, part of Sandals Resorts International (SRI), which account for one-third of her business. “I’m a huge fan of Sandals and Beaches, and we are typically able to get the best price that the average consumer doesn’t know about.” Her favorite deal is the “Free Anniversary Night” in which, if you travel within 30 days of your anniversary and stay at least seven days, you get one night free.
She also loves Sandals’ last-minute deals. She recently booked a $12,000 honeymoon for a couple at Sandals St. Lucia – and, a few days later, there was a similar deal at Sandals Ochi for just $1,800. That couple booked it, too, and went there two months after their honeymoon, because it was such a terrific value.
For Upton, Sandals meets the true definition of “all-inclusive,” so that all of your meals, snacks, specialty coffees, treats, spirits, wines – and rums – are included in the price of your accommodations (which are paid upfront) unless you get spa treatments, or opt for some other upgrades.
“There are no up-charges, and everyone gets to do everything. Plus, we have access to people directly at all the Sandals and Beaches resorts – everyone from the general manager to the sales management team. We have their private phone numbers and email addresses.”
Right now her favorite Sandals resort is Dunn’s River in Jamaica – “and their GM Deryk Meany is the best in the business.” She was actually visiting there during Hurricane Beryl, and was impressed at how, despite the natural disaster, “they kept us well-fed and well-informed, right down to creating a special dinner in the lobby for everyone, thanks to a generator.”
We visited Sandals Dunn’s River in April 2024, and we can tell you that yes, it is indeed fabulous. We interviewed Kai Cronsforth, the food and beverage director, who has a Michelin-starred background, and he explained how the produce comes from all over Jamaica, the beef from the United States or Canada and canned goods from Miami: “We put love and care into everything.” He said that most of the fish,and the fruits and vegetables are organic. Plus, there are two vegan entrées on every menu. And here’s an insider tip: You can choose your dinner from any menu and eat it on-site anywhere you want – in a different restaurant, a private table or in your room. You can even request a kosher dinner, as many Jewish guests do, and Sandals will provide a special, private chef. “And an Orthodox Jewish cleric will be there to actually turn on the stove before every meal in a separate kitchen.”
The resort’s hotel manager, Melissa Clarke, told us that it is her staff that makes Sandals Dunn’s River so special. “We have amazing employees, and they have amazing souls. They are my pride and joy.”
To us, the best, most amazing accommodations there are the Coyoba Sky Villa Rondovals, which all have a connecting water ride and private plunge pools. Five of them are actually two stories high, so you can have dinner up there, enjoy soaking in a Tranquility Soaking Tub and even look through a telescope to see the stars.
When all is said and done, it is no surprise that Dunn’s River, according to our sources, has a more than 50% repeat-guest rate.
This is, of course, thanks to Butch Stewart, the late, creative founder of Sandals, and author of “All That’s Good,” a coffee-table book that explores the creation of Sandals and Beaches and how it became such an all-inclusive brand. Butch’s son Adam is the executive chairman of Sandals Resorts and, like his father, is committed not only to his company but to the people of Jamaica.
“In 2025 we have multiple new resorts on the horizon,” he said in a video. “The sky has never been bluer, the sand has never been whiter and the ocean has never been more gorgeous down here in the Caribbean. I think that 2025 is going to be our rock-star year.”
Furthermore, when you are at Sandals, do as we do – if you can — and make a contribution to the Sandals Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts International. It supports the Caribbean islands through the three pillars of community, environment and education. You can also Pack With A Purpose – bringing a luggage bag filled with school and art supplies for underserved kids.
It’s just one more way to be part of “All That’s Good.”
Contact AdventurUS Travel at info@adventurUStravel.com or 678-696-0757. For more about Debbi, follow her on Instagram at @DebbiKickham.
