by Jim Byers
Last updated: 12:45 AM ET, Fri December 15, 2017
Some of the world's best resorts are now a click away, thanks to the new Air Canada Vacations Ultimate Escapes Collection.
This is the first collection of its kind for Air Canada Vacations, a tremendous package of luxury spots that features newly added properties like the One&Only Palmilla, Gansevoort Turks + Caicos and the Viceroy Riviera Maya, among others. They've all been specifically selected for their premium service and state-of-the-art amenities.
The 43 handpicked properties are located in 15 destinations across Mexico, the Caribbean and the USA.
I've been lucky enough to experience at least a dozen of those resorts, including The Royal Hawaiian on fabled Waikiki Beach, Hermitage Bay in Antigua, The Wynn Vegas in Las Vegas and both Half Moon near Montego Bay and the Jamaica Inn, Ocho Rios.
The Royal Hawaiian is a classic property with a South Seas feel and perhaps the best Mai Tais in Hawaiii, smack dab in the centre of happening Waikiki. Hermitage Bay is a superb resort tucked into a hillside on a quiet, pretty beach on the west coast of Antigua. My room a couple years ago had gorgeous, dark wood and a private plunge pool. The Wynn Vegas has beautiful rooms on a great part of The Strip, and I loved the pasta at Sinatra Restaurant when I visited.
I've stayed at Half Moon near Montego Bay on two occasions, and both times loved the beach, the romantic restaurants and the old-style, friendly service. You can even go horse-back riding in the surf. And the Jamaica Inn is a wonderful, quiet spot near Ocho Rios, with a fantastic beach, a giant lawn for croquet and a wonderful spa.
On top of that, I got to spend a night at Jade Mountain in St. Lucia two years ago. The super-luxury units are open to the elements, with private pools, sweeping views of the majestic Pitons, sensational food and a 24-hour butler.
The resorts have been "carefully curated with the discerning traveller in mind," Air Canada Vacations officials said. "Accommodations include ocean-facing suites and villas, as well as private round-trip transfers, dining from the menus of award-winning chefs, vast wine lists, butler service and more."
"Our Ultimate Escapes Collection meets the needs of travellers looking for a vacation offering the epitome of luxury that they can book in one place with the trust and convenience of doing so with Air Canada Vacations." said Nino Montagnese, Managing Director at Air Canada Vacations. "We're constantly striving to go beyond packaged vacations to offer effortless travel that transports travellers to the extraordinary and we're proud to say we've done exactly that, with luxury reflected in every last detail."
That's certainly the case for the One&Only Palmilla in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I was there a couple of years ago and some women I was travelling with told me that someone who was cleaning their room noticed the clothes they had in their closet and replaced the standard spools of thread in their needle and thread kit with material that matched the colours of their attire. Talk about attention to detail.
All Ultimate Escapes packages come with round-trip flights aboard Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge, departing from 64 Canadian cities and private round-trip transfers as well as complimentary seat selection, preferred seating when available, and a one-time bonus of 1,500 Altitude Qualifying Miles for Air Canada AltitudeTM members. Customers travelling in groups can also choose to elevate their Ultimate Escape by booking a 58-seat private jet with Air Canada Jetz .
Travellers can now book at www.aircanadavacations.com or through travel agents.
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