Mexico, Caribbean & Hawaii Vacation Specialist

Kauai Trip

I've walked the beaches I send people to.

Mexico, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Belize, St. Thomas, St. John, Grand Cayman. I've stayed at these properties, eaten in these restaurants, and come home with opinions. I was married in the Dominican Republic. I've rented villas in Grand Cayman. When I tell you a resort is worth the money, it's because I've seen it, not because a supplier sent me a brochure.

I'm Tamara Lidbom, owner of Anytime Travel Agency and a Certified Travel Associate, and this region is where I've spent the most of my own travel time.

The problem with booking this yourself

Every all-inclusive resort website shows the same photograph. Turquoise water, a rectangle of white sand, two chairs. What the website doesn't tell you is that the swim-up bar closes at five, the adults-only section is three buildings from the beach, or that the ocean view room is a room with an ocean in it if you lean off the balcony.

That's what I'm for. I know which properties deliver what they show and which ones are coasting on a renovation from 2016.

What I'll tell you before you book

Seaweed. Sargassum is real and it's worth planning around. It affects some coastlines far more than others, the season generally runs through the spring and summer months. We will have a genuine conversation around your concerns. 

Hurricane season. June through November, with the heaviest risk late summer into fall. Pricing is lower for a reason. Sometimes that trade is worth making and sometimes it isn't, and that depends on how much flexibility you have and how you'd feel about a rebooking. We'll talk it through, and we'll talk about insurance.

All-inclusive isn't all the same. The gap between a three-star all-inclusive and a five-star one is not a small step up. It's a different vacation. I'll show you what each tier actually buys you so you can decide where your money does the most work.

Hawaii

Hawaii is a different animal and I plan it differently. I hold the Kauai Master Specialist designation, which means I've done the deep training on one island rather than skimming all of them, and that shapes how I advise on the rest.Island choice drives everything. Most of the disappointment I see comes from people picking the wrong island for what they actually wanted, or trying to do three of them in seven days and spending the week in airports. I'll help you choose, and I'll be candid about inter-island logistics, rental cars, and which resorts are worth the premium.

Who this is for

Families who want a week where nobody has to cook. Couples celebrating something. Groups of friends. First-time international travelers who want a soft landing. Anyone who's tired of comparing eleven browser tabs at eleven at night.

Certified Travel Associate (CTA). Kauai Master Specialist. Antigua and Barbuda Specialist. Sandals and Beaches Specialist. Anytime Travel Agency is a member of ASTA, CLIA, and Travel Leaders Network, and is IATAN accredited.

Tell me your dates and who's coming, and I'll tell you where you should be.