Europe Without The Long Flight

Has visiting parts of Europe been on your bucket list for years, but you can't pull the trigger because of the time it takes to get there and the length of trip needed to do it right? Maybe the overall cost of a European vacation has you unable to make the decision to give it a go.  Well I have some great news for you.

I have this little secret that I am about to share with you so let me have your undivided attention and listen closely.  What if I told you that you can see 16th Century architecture, pastel colored buildings similar to those on Italy's Amalfi Coast,  piazzas similar to those in Rome, and have the culinary experience that matches that of Barcelona or Paris, but you only have a 3 to 4 hour flight and half the budget you might think you need? Would you be in for that?  Who wouldn't, right?  But there are tons of travelers here in the US that ignore this hidden gem and opportunity every time they make their vacation plans simply because...its in Mexico.  That's right, Mexico!

Let me formally introduce you to one of my favorite travel destinations in the whole wide world...San Miguel de Allende.  San Miguel who you say? San Miguel de Allende.  This beauty of a city is located in the hill country in what I refer to as the central, lower half of Mexico.  Its a little over 160 miles northeast of Mexico City and about 75 miles or so from Leon (airport code BJX) which is the airport most travelers fly into when visiting the area. The distance from the airport is not a bad thing.  The mountainous scenery between airport and San Miguel is beautiful and worth having your camera at the ready during the drive. Plus, you won't have any of the beauty of San Miguel spoiled by the noise of airplanes landing and taking off.

After you skirt the outer edge of Guanajuato (another amazing historic city) and venture through a couple of smaller villages on the drive, San Miguel finally reveals itself and you can't help but feel a little emotional.  You have officially stepped into an era when things were simpler and life was about friends and family and shared meals and faith.  The cobblestone streets are all the proof you need to prove this place is special and amazingly preserved and protected from major tourism and commercialization.  Residents here don't look to escape to another part of the world after graduation.  They realize what they have and what they have is very very special.

Our hotel of choice for this experience was the Belmond Casa de Sierra Nevada.  It is a gorgeous property which was once an old hacienda now converted into a luxury boutique hotel. While the layout is not a traditional hotel design, the grounds are beautifully landscaped and rooms are elegantly yet simply decorated.  The check in desk, main bar and restaurant are situated in a way that you feel like you have entered someones luxury home after walking through the front door.  You feel stress and the outside world disappear.  Is this a bunch of hyperbole you ask? Trust me when I say it is not.  This hotel captivated me as did San Miguel. Tip:  Upgrade to the deluxe junior suite.

Another hotel visited during our stay was the fantastic Rosewood San Miguel de Allende just a few blocks from the Belmond.  This is a bigger hotel and not as close to the main squares of San Miguel but it would be hard to say its not equal in all other aspects of luxury accommodations.  The rooftop bar offers one of the best (if not the best) views of San Miguel.  It's a must do at night.  And it is closer to more of the local residential areas of San Miguel where you can venture into the nearby park on the weekends and see families enjoying some play time or watch a local pick-up game of soccer or basketball.

So you have reached San Miguel, you have checked into your beautiful hacienda and now you are ready venture out.  Make sure your camera phone is fully charged before you do because you will want to snap a pic at every corner.  As you make the first corner from the Belmond towards the main square, you get the first glimpse of historic La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, the parish church of San Miguel.  It is a magnificent sight.  My recommendation is to grab a seat on one of the many park benches around the square that faces the church and sit and take it all in and listen for the ringing of the bells.  Stop in one of the pastry shops on the many side streets that shoot off of the main square and sit and enjoy seeing what old Mexico was really all about.

But don't stop there...as you stroll the streets you will stumble upon many of the other squares and churches that makes this city a dream location for those that love historic architecture.  The Templo de San Francisco and the Nuestra Señora de la Salud Church are must sees and each are surrounded by beautifully manicured trees and squares.

Once you start walking...you will see that you are somewhere special.  The quietness of the side streets pour into the lively squares where you can sit and savor great food while listening to a musician take you back to the 16th and 17th century by their simple strumming of a guitar.

Are you a foodie?  If so, you have to come to San Miguel.  The menus are diverse.  Fresh seafood is brought in daily from the Pacific and the local chefs take pride is their using of ingredients indigenous  to the area.  You can enjoy everything from shrimp tacos to pork belly sandwiches to the best ceviche found on the face of the planet accompanied by the best wines from the mountainous regions around San Miguel.  

Into shopping?  Some of the best boutique clothiers in the world can be found in San Miguel as well as skilled and world renowned artisans selling their hand made, hand painted crafts.

So can you see why I titled this blog the way I did?  San Miguel offers everything that most major destinations do all throughout Europe and is much much easier to get to for those of us here in the U.S.

So are you ready to see the jewel of Mexico?  We sure hope so because you will not be disappointed that you decided it was ok to go to Mexico and forgo the beach.

Making the Right Travel Decision

Any consultant worth his or her salt, seeks to provide their clients with the best possible information so their clients can then take that information and make the best decision possible.  Making right decisions, for the most part, relies on having the correct information ahead of making that decision.  We rely on experts in certain fields to provide us with that correct info whether its health related, financially related etc.  We don't turn to friends who have not been to medical school to advise us on how to treat some health ailment. We don't rely on someone who has never worked on a car engine to help us determine how to fix our broken down car. We don't take advice from financially broke friends on how to better invest our money.  The same logic should apply when someone is wanting travel advice.  Turning to non-professionals can sometimes render bad decisions because the non-professional information was flawed and possibly even incorrect.

We see this a lot in the field of professional travel consulting.  We hear of travelers being encouraged to take a cruise solely because a passport is not currently needed for a lot of cruises.  But that information is only partially correct and may lead travelers to make the wrong decision for them and their family.  We have clients come to us and say they only want to visit 2 of the 4 parks at Walt Disney World because a friend said they didn't think the other parks had enough for small children.  Again, that is not a factual statement.  Similarly we have had clients say they don't want to visit a destination like Universal Orlando Parks and Resorts because too many of the rides have a height requirement of 50in or taller.  Clients were ready to not consider that option based on that one friend's comment.  The friend's comment was incorrect.   Many discount the idea of Mexico being a vacation destination based on friend's comments about safety in Mexico.  99% of the time, those friends are not stating facts but only passing on news stories that are also not stating facts. These are just small examples of how wrong information and opinion can alter a family's vacation plans.

It is our job to help clients sift through the gobs of opinions and counter some of those opinions with simple facts so our clients can make the best decision possible for what is right for them, not for their friends. We can help clients see that having a passport is still highly encouraged even when taking a cruise for a variety of reasons.  We can help clients see what is offered for all ages at every park that makes up Walt Disney World and then let the clients decide how they want to spend THEIR time.  We can provide actual ride heights showing that the majority of the attractions at Universal Orlando are under that 50in requirement.  We can even provide actual crime statistics that show Mexico is safer than places like the Bahamas, Jamaica. Punta Cana etc for tourists.

We have opinions too.  Clients come to us for our opinions.  But even our opinions are based one what we factually know about a destination or certain type of vacation. This is why we take the time and spend the money to travel to the places we sell.  We can then offer facts, personal experiences and opinion which gives our clients the best possible info so they can weed through the hoards of options and make the right vacation choice.

So the next time you get an opinion from someone who is NOT a professional travel consultant, reach out to us or find a professional who is a right fit and trust their skill and knowledge. It could make the difference between an ok vacation and a great vacation.

The Other Side of Mexico

So many travelers seem to think Cancun encompasses all of Mexico.  When someone says, "we want to go to Mexico," they usually mean Cancun.  Well I am here to officially inform you that Mexico is a great, big, incredible Country and extends well beyond the areas of Cancun.   In fact...let me introduce you to the other side of Mexico...the Pacific side.

Now that I have personally been to the Pacific side 3 times (and a 4th visit is planned), I can say without a doubt that it is my favorite side.  In my humbled opinion, it has so much more to offer than the Caribbean side of Mexico.  Yes the Caribbean side has white sand beaches and crystal clear waters.  So if you are a water person, you may be very content with only seeing the Caribbean side.  But if you want culture, history and adventure as well as beautiful sunsets and a laid back atmosphere, then you must plan a visit to the Pacific side asap.

For example, San Jose del Cabo has the historic Mission de San Jose del Cabo dating back to 1730AD.  You can participate in the art walk in San Jose del Cabo every Thursday night between June and November.  Or visit Los Cabos during the winter and enjoy seeing humpback whales breech the water as you sip your morning coffee on your oceanfront balcony.

Or you can enjoy a walk through downtown Puerto Vallarta (PVR) and eat at one of the 5-star dining venues that has made PVR a foodies paradise.  Wine connoisseur?  Plan a trip to PVR in March and enjoy their annual wine fest.

Visitors to Zihuatanejo get taken back in time when it was small fishing village and life went by at a much slower pace.  You can still go back in time as you walk the cobblestone streets.  Maybe you enjoy museum visits when traveling abroad.  If you do, then plan a visit to the Museo Arqueológico de la Costa Grande.

And we can't talk about the Pacific side of Mexico without talking about Acapulco. It is the original Mexico Riviera.  It has been the home of the rich and famous for decades and still is.  It is the "Vegas" of Mexico.  Nightlife abounds along with the abundance of tours up into the rain forest or out and about on the blue waters of the Pacific.  From Acapulco, you can plan a side trip up into the historic silver mining town of Taxco and still see Mexico as it was back during the colonial periods of its history.

So much to do...so much to see.  It is worth every minute of extra time that it might take you to fly into the cities I just mentioned.  And I have not even touched on the geographical differences vs what pretty much all of Cancun and the Riviera Maya area looks like.

In the Los Cabos area, you have the beautiful and rugged desert mountains that look like they literally plunge down into the Sea of Cortez & Pacific Ocean.  That is contrasted with the lush, green rain forests and palm-lined beaches of Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo.

So much diversity in every aspect of travel when you venture over to the Pacific side of Mexico.  Please please don't overlook that part of Mexico when it comes to planning your next adventure.  You will not be disappointed.

Mexico...A Luxury Traveler's Haven

Too many people do not associate Mexico with luxury and that is a crying shame.   Mexico yells "luxury!!" but it seems not everyone is hearing or is willing to listen.  I know, when someone says they want to take a luxury trip somewhere, they usually think of places like the Mediterranean coasts of Italy or France or cities such as Venice or Paris.  Others that have more tropical destinations in mind usually equate luxury to St Lucia or Anguilla or some of the BVI's.  But few seem to say the words Mexico and luxury in the same sentence.  Well I am here to try to change that.

I have taken land-based vacations to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos and each of these cities & areas  have 5 star, luxurious options for those who want to be pampered like a dignitary and surrounded by the best of everything.   For example...Cancun has the beautiful Banyan Tree Mayakoba or the Fairmont Mayakoba.  Both are 5 diamond properties and offer the best in luxury accommodations and experience.  They are easily accessible from Cancun's international airport and you can be whisked to your resort in the finest of SUV's or private sedans.

Same goes for Puerto Vallarta.  You don't have to skimp on service or luxury when you stay at the 5 diamond Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit or the St Regis Punta Mita.   This was the original destination of the rich and famous and was quickly named Mexico's Riviera which competed with any of Europe's top high-end destinations.

And you can't go to Cabo without acknowledging that this is the new hot destination for the luxury-minded traveler.   The luxury choices seem endless.  You can opt for the One and Only Palmilla or the Capella Pedragal or Secrets Marquis or Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf and Spa Resort.  All say "luxury" loud and clear.

Here is what all 3 destinations have in common and offer the luxury traveler:

1) Unique experiences.  Every discerning traveler wants something unique.  They want a special occasion option or an experience you can't get at every mass-traveled destination.  Mexico offers that in general, but especially in the 3 areas I am mentioning.  Maybe it is swimming with whale sharks or sipping a morning cup of coffee while watching whales breach the waters of the Sea of Cortez or seeing world-renowned art after dining at one of the world's best restaurants.  Or maybe it is taking in some of Mexico's UNESCO World Heritage sites (over 30 to choose from).  This is what Mexico can offer.

2) Easy Access.  All 3 areas have easily accessible airports from most major hubs in the US.  But what stands out to me is how close everything is to the airport.  There is no traffic to sit in (i.e. London, Paris etc) once you land.  The furthest you will travel to get to the resorts I have mentioned is 45 mins or less once you are in your private car.  Your private driver can give you a great run down on what to do, where to eat etc during the short transfer to your resort.

3)  Safety.  Contrary to what the news tries to tell you.  Mexico is a generally safe country. They have their bad areas just like we do here in the US.  We just like to talk about everyone else more than looking in the mirror.  All 3 areas offer a safe environment for the luxury traveler.  That does not mean someone should let their guard down just like someone should always be vigilant even while dining off of Rodeo Drive.  But the areas themselves are geographically removed from the more dangerous areas featured in the news.

4) Appeal to every generation.  Whether you are a generation Y luxury traveler or a baby boomer who likes the finer things of life, all 3 areas offer a bit of everything.  Want to learn about the ecosystem of the desert that sits between the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean and then ride a camel along the shore of the Pacific?  You can do that in Cabo.  Or maybe you want to sit in the quiet ambience of a small, chic restaurant and sip the finest of tequila.  You can do that too.  Or maybe you want to kayak out into the Sea or Cortez and get up close to a migrating humpback whale.  Or you want to try diving off into one of the many Cenotes near Cancun.  Or sit and enjoy a fine bottle of wine from your private balcony while watching the sunset in Puerto Vallarta or take a horse back ride into the lush mountains just outside the city. There is something for everyone and all can be done as a private or shared experience.

5) Privacy.  The luxury and discerning traveler sometimes needs a respite from their daily routine and people in general.  These destinations and their luxury accommodations offer that retreat.  From the luxury private pool villas at Banyan Tree to the Villa Cortez at the One and Only Palmilla.

So please please...do not overlook Mexico when it comes to a luxury getaway.  It is my favorite destination and my wish is everyone would at least appreciate Mexico for its people, its beauty, its culture and rich history and yes...even its luxurious offerings.

AIl-Inclusive vs European Plan

If you have ever traveled outside the US, you most likely reserved a hotel that was either on an "EP" plan or an "AI" plan.  You may have noticed those symbols within your quote and never really paid attention to what they meant as far as your price was concerned.  If you like to peruse the internet and book vacations yourself, you may not even have realized which plan you were on until you arrived at your destination.

There are some resorts and hotels that now offer both an EP plan and also an AI plan.  EP simply stands for "European Plan" and AI simply stands for "All-Inclusive."  But if you were not aware of that, you may have booked a room at a hotel that offers both and think you got a steal compared to someone else who paid X amount of dollars more for the same room.  Little did you know that they were on an AI plan while you were on an EP plan.

All-inclusive resorts are very popular these days, especially when it comes to traveling to places like Cancun, Punta Cana, Jamaica etc. They have made traveling more affordable to a wider demographic. What are the pluses?  The biggest is the one I just mentioned...affordability.  When you look at the price for an all-inclusive, you know what the real cost of the trip is going to be upfront because most include your beverages, most of your food and your lodging and even some non-motorized water sports such as snorkeling, kayaks etc.  Some luxury all-inclusive resort chains also tout that your gratuities are included upfront, but that can be argued (and maybe I will in a future post).  So when a travel agent sends you a quote that includes flights, round trip transfers and an all-inclusive resort, you know you are seeing all of the costs minus any excursion that you may want to venture out on in whatever Country you visiting.

A lot of all-inclusive resorts know that, in order to be successful, they need to appeal to that broader demographic so they have kept their prices more affordable than some of the more high-end boutique and chain hotels.

Which really leads to the only negative when it comes to all-inclusives.  Regardless of how many stars are put next to the description of the resort, some will argue that the food quality is never as good as you will find at some other resort or hotel that only offers the European Plan when it comes to their food venues.  Some will also argue that the drinks are more watered down at an all-inclusive again implying that you are not getting the highest quality of beverage or food.  Or they argue that you will only get "local" (cheaper) liquors served when ordering your Mojito or Margarita etc.  There is a lot of validity to that argument.  Do resorts try to find ways of cutting costs so they can offer these all-inclusive plans and allow patrons to eat and eat and eat and drink and drink and drink while trying to turn a profit?  Sure!  Does that mean you are going to have awful food and terrible tasting beverages?  NO!

But you can't go into an all-inclusive resort and expect Ritz or Four Seasons level food and beverage.  If you go into an all-inclusive knowing you are going to be staying in a beautiful location, enjoying nice accommodations, really good food and drink and even enjoyable entertainment, then you will have a great experience and love the all-inclusive option.

But if you are a really serious connoisseur of food and wine and cocktails, then you should probably look at hotels that offer only the European Plan.  So to keep things simple...EP simply means that you are paying for your resort stay and any meals and beverages will be billed to you separately and NOT included in your resort room rate.  Your major hotel chains such as Marriott, Hilton, Ritz Carlton etc offer EP plans when it comes to your meals and beverages.  Some chains, like Hilton as I mentioned earlier, now offer both at some Caribbean destinations where all-inclusives are the more popular option.  But as a general rule, these major chains will be EP.  Smaller boutique-style hotels tend to be EP.  You will find that some of the smaller, more upscale Caribbean destinations such as St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis etc mainly have hotels and resorts that are on the EP plan.  These resorts and destinations tend to appeal more to those where budgets are not as important as other criteria when it comes to their vacation planning process.

So I say all of this to simply educate you so you know what you are getting when you choose hotel A over hotel B and you did that solely on price.  You may not have paid attention to one being EP and not AI.  EP resorts and hotels often appear less expensive when comparing packages, but your food and beverage will add up in a hurry during your trip.  The AI option may end up being the better deal if you are one that likes drink and eat a lot while on vacation.  So look for those symbols in your quote and "know before you go."

Out of the two pictures in this post...can you tell which one is at an AI resort and which one is at an EP resort?

"The Corridor" of Mexico

I have so many superlatives that I could use to describe my trip to the Los Cabos area of Mexico, otherwise known as "the corridor."  Let's start with incredible, beautiful, enchanting, awe-inspiring and SAFE!.   Do you get the idea that I love this part of Mexico?

Let's first start with a geographic lesson.  So many people use Los Cabos in a general sense to identify the area or town known as Cabo San Lucas.  When in reality there are 3 distinct areas that make up the tip of the Baja Peninsula; San Jose del Cabo, Los Cabos and Cabo San Lucas.  When you fly into the area...you will fly into San Jose del Cabo which is a wonderful, quiet little fishing village on the banks of the Sea of Cortez.  From there, most vacationers will travel along a gorgeous stretch of highway that will take them to the town of Cabo San Lucas.  The area connecting the two towns is called Los Cabos or "The Corridor."

We based our stay out of the beautiful Secrets Marquis Los Cabos Resort and Spa.  The resort is surrounded by the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range on one side and the azure blue Sea of Cortez on the other.  The contrast of the cactus-covered mountains with the sounds of the sea are striking which to me makes this area very special.

We had the privilege of visiting 12 resorts during this visit and I want to simply recap 3 of them to show  you the range of accommodation possibilities that this area has to offer.

First...let's start with the resort we stayed at.  Secrets Marquis is a luxury all-inclusive resort and is adults only, which simply means you have to be 17 years of age or older to stay there, situated in the "Corridor."  The resort offers all ranges of room categories, from standard, well-appointed rooms up to their luxury private casitas.  Each room comes with an amazing view.  The resort is situated on a smaller footprint than some of its sister resorts on the Caribbean side of Mexico.  But that also means there are less choices when it comes to food and beverage.  But if you are looking for a quiet, luxury escape with some of the best vistas in the world, then this resort is perfect for you.  The infinity pool overlooking the Sea of Cortez is incredible and makes this resort one of my top choices.

The second resort I want to mention is Me Cabo by Melia.  This is the opposite of Secrets Marquis.  It is located in Cabo San Lucas, centrally located near all of the night life that Cabo has to offer.  This means that this resort is not for those seeking an escape and R&R.  This resort is perfect for the younger and young at heart who want activities, a cool vibe combined with luxury surroundings.  The resort is also ideally located on one of the best stretches of swimmable beach in all of Cabo.  You want Miami South Beach Chic combined with incredible views of the Sea of Cortez and its amazing landscape?  This is your resort.  I am a Me Cabo fan!

The last resort I want to touch on in this review is Pueblo Bonito Pacifica.  You want some R&R, some wellness and spiritual healing, but also want to stay in close proximity to some night time hot spots?  This resort is right up your alley.  This was one of 2 resorts that I was able to visit that is located on the Pacific Ocean side of Cabo San Lucas.  Let's see what words I can use to describe it...gorgeous, peaceful, tranquil, stunning...get the idea?  This luxury all-inclusive getaway is again not your typical all-inclusive that you may be used to in the Caribbean.  It does not come with your typical French, Italian, Asian, Buffet and Mexican choices like is becoming the standard in so many all-inclusives.  The restaurants are focussed on serving what is fresh and local and is simply more international than focussed on a specific style.  Pueblo Bonito Pacifica is centered around wellness which means it has one of the best spas in the world.  The rooms are modern, yet comfortable and stylish.  The beach and pools invite you to take a deep breath and say....ahhhh.

You can see that this beautiful area of Mexico has everything a vacationer would want.  I have seldom seen an area that can appeal to literally everyone; the adventurer, the spa-goer, the bar-hopper, the history buff, the work-escaper, the golfer, the nature-watcher and so on.  You can see a part of history that shaped the western part of Mexico's culture by visiting the Mission de San Jose del Cabo.  You can book a room that overlooks the Sea of Cortez in January and watch grey whales breach the water.  You can take a camel ride along the shore of the Pacific Ocean and and have an authentic meal of chicken mole, rice and hand-made tortillas through Cabo Adventures.  You can try your hand at sword fishing from one of the many talented guides that base themselves out of the scenic Cabo San Lucas marina. You want championship golf courses?  Cabo has those too.

Are you getting the picture?  I hope so because this part of Mexico deserves your consideration the next time you are planning a vacation.  Like I said at the beginning...I love this part of Mexico.  You can see pictures of the resorts I mentioned as well as the other wonderful resorts we visited during this trip by clicking on this link to my page on Facebook.

Please let me know if you have any questions related to this review or my trip to Cabo.  Have you been before?  How would you describe the area to someone who has never been?

Travel Safety: Why Mexico Gets a Bad Rap

This article is being contributed by guest blogger Matt Smith.  Matt owns and operates Detour Travel and you can visit his blog by clicking on this link.

Many people hear that Detour's tour destinations include Mexico, and they seem surprised. They think the whole country must be like the ugly stories that make the news.

Meanwhile, I've never heard anyone say they wouldn't visit Philadelphia, New Orleans, or Washington, DC... even though they're all in the top ten "Most Murderous Cities" in the U.S.

I had this conversation with my grandfather. He was freaked out by the word Mexico. Once I explained that it's a great place, he still wanted me to cover Detour's website with assurances that you'll survive our trips in one piece.

This is the same guy who took my family on a trip to DC last year in honor of his 90th birthday. We went to museums and restaurants, rode the subway and walked the streets - without once fearing for our lives. Simply being within the city limits doesn't get you shot. There are other factors involved.

Mexico is similar. Setting foot in Mexico doesn't automatically put you in the middle of the drug wars. Our tours, to Guadalajara and a few nearby communities, stay far from the border areas and major drug corridors. We pay attention to the U.S. State Department's recommendations on what areas are safe, and we ask our friends in Guadalajara. (They all feel it's a safe place to be unless you're personally involved in the drug trade.)

We recommend the U.S. State Dept as a resource on travel safety no matter where you're going. They offer country-specific information as well as general tips on traveling safely.

Common sense disclaimer: Safe is a relative term. Nothing is certain. We could go to the safest place and still encounter random violence... just like we could bundle up, wash our hands, pop vitamin C pills, and still catch a cold.

What is your impression of traveling to Mexico?

Mexico...My Little "Secret" (Part 2)

Well I am finally back to finish my review of our latest trip to Cancun and the Riviera Maya. As promised in the previous installment, this review will cover our stay at AMResort’s first Riviera Maya property, Secrets Capri Resort and Spa.

I must admit that for the first time in all of my travels, I went into this trip with very high expectations based on reviews I had read prior to our trip. That is in violation of my own rules about travel. I usually try to down play the overly positive and take the extreme negative with several grains of salt. But this time, I had listened too much to all of the VERY positive remarks as they related to the service at Capri. So many reviewers had mentioned that they were always greeted by name after the first day of being at the resort. So I was very excited to be able to experience what I call “Ritz Carlton service” at a non-Ritz Carlton resort. That was my mistake because I basically set the resort up for failure in that regard by possibly having unreasonable expectations based on some other’s supposed experience.

The service was good so let me get that out there right now. You will not be disappointed in the service once you arrive. The staff is very friendly and courteous. They will do what they can to help if you need assistance of any kind. You will receive a plethora of “hola’s” during your stay from every staff member that you pass along the way. So again...the service was good. But it was not near the level of great that I had read about before arriving. No one ever remembered our name after the first day. Some servers were less than good, but that does not take away from my overall opinion. Some pool bar servers were actually not good at all, but some other fantastic servers made up for their incompetence and lack of attention. You will find that variety at most resorts so I will not give Capri a bad review based on just a few bad server apples.

The same goes for some of the restaurant staff. Some servers were awesome while some others were non-existent after the first greeting, especially during breakfast in La Riviera.

Moving on...the food was good as well. The breakfast buffet was probably one of the best I have ever experienced as far as food and selection goes. One of the best omelet makers in the world works at Secrets Capri and her name is Rita. Make sure you try one of her very fluffy omelets during your stay. She is also a very warm and friendly person so say “hola” to her as you wait. We tried basically every restaurant during our stay and we enjoyed every one. There are 5 restaurants including their outside grill. All have nice ambience and some come with an awesome view of the Caribbean which always makes a meal taste better in my opinion. Some meals were better than others, but no complaints as far as overall taste and quantity. And don’t hesitate to order room service. It was always prompt and they have a nice variety offered on their room service menu.

The resort is smaller than some of the other all-inclusive resorts up and down the Riviera Maya.  It has a more intimate feel which I like.  The grounds and common areas are beautiful and the beach was fantastic.  They have added some new pool chairs which are very comfortable and we never had any issues when trying to a find nice spot by the pool or out on the beach.

The room was smaller than my previous stay at Secrets Silversands, but it was adequate and well appointed.  The bed was comfortable and the bathroom was huge and came with dual sinks, nice large shower and also a whirlpool tub.  We had an ocean view room with a balcony and the view was something that kept making me stroll out to the balcony to take it all in realizing it was not going to be my view anymore after 6 days.  The only complaint I have about the room was the furniture on the balcony.  It was very uncomfortable.  We had to stack towels on top of the chairs just to be able to sit for any length of time.  I hope management addresses that at some point.

Hastening on.  I have to mention the spa.  Probably one of the nicest spa experiences we have had.  Their facilities are beautiful and you cannot help but feel relaxed as soon as you step through the doors.  Yes the prices are high for any of their treatments, but you are on vacation for crying out loud so plan on splurging a little.  It is well worth it if you take the time to enjoy all that their spa has to offer.  Make sure you get to the spa about an hour before your appointment so you can relax in the saunas and pools. 

The one thing that I wish AMResorts would address is the tipping or gratuity policy.  They (and a lot of other resort chains do as well) advertise that their pricing also includes gratuities.  This should mean that employees at the resorts should decline gratuities when offered since their superior service is supposed to reflect the idea they have already been tipped.   But it appears that sometimes bar service is somehow on par with how much you have have tipped a particular server or bartender throughout your trip.  The resorts need to go one way or the other.  Either train their staff to refuse tips because they are already included or lower the room rates and then make it clear that your rate does NOT include gratuities.

Before I close I also want to give a shout out to AMSTAR tours.  They are on-site at Capri and they (and their drivers and tour guide) do a great job with excursions so look for them on the main level once you arrive. 

In summary, Secrets Capri Resort and Spa is a very nice resort and we had a great trip while staying with them.  Just go into your trip with reasonable expectations and you will not be disappointed.  You can view photos of the resort by clicking on this link...Secrets Capri Resort and Spa

Mexico...My Little “Secret” (Part 1)

I find it interesting that a major all-inclusive resort chain would choose to name one of their products “Secrets.”  No business anywhere of any kind wants to be a secret.  Maybe their goal was to aim for a name that would conjure up an image of exclusivity. That might well be the case with AMResorts when they decided they would build their first Secrets Resort and Spa in Mexico’s Riviera Maya back in 2003.  You get a sense that they almost like to keep their resorts a “secret” when you compare even the size of their gated entrances to those of some of the other big name resort players throughout the Cancun/Playa del Carmen area.   

But before I get into my review related to the resort itself and share my little “secret” with you, let me start by offering some tips on how best to navigate your way through customs and beyond once you arrive in Cancun.  First...have your customs and declaration forms filled out BEFORE you get off the plane in Cancun.  Sometimes this is unavoidable since Mexico does not always equip incoming planes with the proper number of forms needed.  But that was not the case on our latest American Airlines flight and, to much surprise, several passengers were huddled in a cramped gate area immediately off the plane because they did not have their forms pre-filled out before they landed.  The Mexican officials will not let you head on down towards the customs area unless you have your forms filled out.  So try really hard to get your hands on those forms before landing in Cancun.

Then, once you have navigated the customs and immigration area with luggage in tow, head straight through the sliding doors and outside to the transfer and transportation area with purpose.  If you are traveling to Mexico for the first time, do NOT wait until you arrive in Cancun before you start considering how you will get from the airport to your hotel or resort.  This will sound like an understatement to those who have been to Mexico before, but vendors in Mexico are pushy!  If you don’t know where you are going or what you are doing, they will sense that like a lion smells food on the Serengeti.  Make sure you have your transfers pre-arranged before arriving in Cancun and then follow your transfer company’s instructions to a T.  Vendors inside the airport (after you leave the customs area) will act as if they need to see your reservation or confirmation to “help you make sure you know where you are going” which they don’t so keep your eyes looking forward and walk with purpose past their nonsense and out to the area where you were told to go. 

We chose USA Transfers again for this trip and they were wonderful.  They greet you by name and offer clean and well-maintained vans for their shuttle service whether private or shared.  Their prices are reasonable as well. Various other suppliers that I use such as GOGO and Pleasant Holidays all use reputable transfer companies and have clear instructions to follow so, again, make sure you have your transfers pre-arranged before heading off on your vacation.

Second tip to consider.  Take along about $100 to $200 in US dollars and try to take along small bills such as $1’s and $5’s.  Even though most resorts will advertise that “tips are included,”  most every employee still expects some form of small gratuity when fetching you a beverage or calling a taxi etc.  If you go down with larger bills and then try to buy something to get change, you will most likely be given pesos in return.  So try as best as you can to set aside some money just for tipping.

Third tip...be patient for crying out loud.  Remember that you are the visitor.  You are the tourist.  Your ways are not their ways.  Your customs are not their customs.  Mexico has its own speed.  Schedules can sometimes have a plus or minus of 15-30 minutes (usually a plus).  Be patient with that and with the drivers and guides that you come across.  Remember that English is NOT their national language and the fact that many of them speak both Spanish and English means they are probably more intelligent than you and I.  So when your bus makes it 4th or 5th stop, take a deep breath and remember that you are in Mexico where life is harder for most of its citizens and they have the same goals as you and I which is to provide for ourselves and our family and try to live as comfortably as we can and at peace. 

Fourth and final tip...spend a day away from your resort.  The local economy is better supported when tourists remove themselves from the confines of the resort.  Taxi drivers, tour guides, local vendors and artisans reap the benefits of your visit when you buy their wares or use their services.  These service providers and vendors are mostly those who have called Cancun and Playa del Carmen their home for most of their lives versus some of the employees at the resorts who may have been transplanted in because of their education and their ability to speak English fluently. So get out and experience more of what Mexico has to offer.  While their sales techniques can be a bit much compared to what we are used to in the United States, you will still meet some of the nicest, most hospitable people found anywhere on the planet.  So get out there and see what they have to offer.

So now please stay tuned for my review and observations of AMResort’s first resort of the Riviera Maya...Secrets Capri Resort and Spa.

How Safe is Mexico?

As most everyone knows, thanks to the media, there has been yet another travel warning issued for Mexico. This latest warning is due to the increase in violence in certain Mexico states and towns. This warning has again made the public weary of traveling to any part of Mexico whether on vacation or business.

As with past posts on this blog, I feel it is my duty to help you sift through the media hype, the misstatements, the false and misleading advertising etc when it comes to travel related issues. This is why I feel it is necessary for me to help you understand the reality of this latest travel alert.

I will state right up front...I am a fan of Mexico. I have traveled to Mexico and had and will have clients who travel to Mexico and it is my opinion that Mexico offers some of the best vacation options throughout the world. That is why I am very bothered when I see and read things that try to get travelers to think otherwise, especially when news stories paint an unrealistic and negatively skewed picture of a situation.

I have recently posted a quiz to get a better idea of what the general public actually might know about Mexico and its size and geography. The results of that quiz were as I expected and further convinced me that this post was necessary. I asked questions such as "How far is the Yucatan Peninsula from the town of Nuevo Laredo?" Some responded that it is 100 miles away, some responded that it is 200 miles away. The correct answer was that they are over 600 miles apart. I also asked if it was true that Tijuana is within 50 miles from Cabo San Lucas? The correct answer is false, they are hundreds of miles away from each other. Another question was concerning the location of the Mexico town of Nogales. Almost 50% of the responders think it is in the southern part of the Country. The correct answer is that it is on the extreme northern border of Mexico (northwest to be more accurate, but not a coastal town). Most responders also believe that the Mexico city of Ciuad Juarez is on the Pacific, the Caribbean or the Gulf of Mexico coastline. Ciuad Juarez is not on any coast and is also located on the northern border of Mexico (see previous post).

I specifically used those towns and cities (Nogales, Ciuad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo and Tijuana) in my quiz because they are the very locations of all of the violence in Mexico and they are all border towns with the United States. Another thing that they all have in common is that they are hundreds and even thousands of miles from almost every Mexico tourist destination (see photo). For example...San Francisco and L.A. are closer than Tijuana and Cabo San Lucas. Would anyone cancel a trip to San Francisco because of crime issues in Los Angeles? Here is another truth...the very popular Riviera Maya area of Mexico is over 1300 miles from the town of Nogales where a lot of the violence has occurred. So that would be the equivalent of canceling a trip to the State of Oklahoma because of some violence outbreak in a city in California. Imagine what we would think if we found out foreign tourists were deciding to cancel trips to Florida because they heard that there was a crime spree in New York City. We would think they just have no earthly idea of how far apart those two places are or we would think they are simply overreacting. Well...I wonder what the people of Cozumel or Cancun or Mazatlan think of us when we make similar decisions about visiting their part of the world because we hear that there is violence on the Mexico/Texas border?

I have posted the numbers in a previous post so I will not belabor you with them again, but the facts show that we have much higher crime rates in most of our large U.S. tourist destinations than they do in the actual tourist locations of Mexico.

So with that said...what are your thoughts about traveling to Mexico? Are you still concerned? If you are...why? Do these facts help you better understand where the trouble spots are? I would love to get your feedback or questions.

How Well Do You Know Mexico?

Mexico again is making headlines in our media. So before I devote another entire article to the subject of travel in Mexico, I thought it would be good to get a feel of what the general population knows about the Country and its geography in particular. Please take a moment and take the quiz in this post and I will then tally the results in my next post where I will also address the question..."how safe is it to travel to Mexico?"

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Concerned about your safety while traveling abroad?

Being the victim of a crime while traveling abroad would undoubtedly put a damper on anyone’s vacation. The U.S. State Department occasionally puts out warnings making us aware of the dangers of traveling to certain areas of the world because of the threat of violence against U.S. citizens. Most of the time it seems that those warnings are valid when you take into consideration that some of the areas we are warned about experience a high level of terrorist activity.

But I am not talking about those very few in number violent hotspots in this article. I want to address the constant warnings or news stories that keep making headlines for such places as Mexico, Aruba, and now even the Bahamas. Our media is quick to pick up on a story of a U.S. citizen being attacked while on vacation in some of these popular tourist destinations. In regards to Mexico, most stories are not even about Americans being attacked as much as they are about drug related violence in the towns along the U.S./Mexico border. Sensationalism is a major issue when it comes to our media reporting such events. There is a teaching in the Bible that says a man should not try to get the stick out of another person’s eye while he has a large beam in his own eye. That seems to be true about American Journalism. Our media seems to be one that likes to point out the trouble in other areas of our world while ignoring the major trouble right in our own backyard.

This sort of problem bothers me because of the fact that so many listen to such reports about a crime in “XYZ” Country and then decide to no longer vacation in that area of the world. An entire Country’s economy can be devastated by what our media reports when it shines such a negative light.

Now I am not saying that we should not be aware the potential for crime in various tourist areas, but I am saying that we need to sift through the hype and realize what the facts truly are before rushing to judgment or decision.

So let’s get down to the facts about crime for a moment. First…do you know where the U.S. ranks in the world when it comes to assaults? Out of every nation in the world, the U.S. ranks 6th! That is right…6th. Do you know where Mexico ranks? 20th! They rank lower than Great Britain, Canada, Australia and even Jamaica. When was the last time that you saw someone in our media write a story about the dangers of traveling to Australia or Great Britain? Wonder how many foreign media outlets are writing stories warning travelers of the dangers of traveling to the U.S.?? There have been stories recently about assaults against tourists in Nassau in the Bahamas. Cruise lines even started warning their passengers about getting off the ship while in port in Nassau. Do you know where the Bahamas rank in overall assaults? They are not even on the list. Guess where the U.S. ranks in total crime? If you guessed 1st, you are correct. That is right, more crime happens right here in the good old U.S. of A than any other nation in the world. Even if you break the statistic down to a per capita basis, the U.S. still ranks 8th. Mexico again comes in 39th well below the U.S. But we like to ignore those stats and jump on other countries when one of our own becomes a victim of crime inside their borders and put out travel warnings that may take a huge toll on those who live modest lives and who rely on tourists coming to visit their small part of the world.

So what is the moral of this story…be a smart traveler. Be vigilant no matter where you are. Don’t cut down side streets if you are not familiar with an area. Stay in populated areas or choose to go on guided tours. Keep your belongings close to your side and locked up. Appear that you are sure of yourself and where you are headed, or in other words, don’t look like a “tourist.”

And don’t be quick to take the media’s version of a story or report and keep things in perspective. You are in as much danger living and visiting areas of our own Country as you are traveling abroad. So get out there and don’t let fear rule your decisions and experience life through travel.

If you would like to see the statistics for yourself…you can click here.

The Mexico You Should Know

Misinformation, over-hyped, false information, ignoring of facts...these are the reasons why tourism in Mexico has plummeted over the past several months. Too many tourists and travelers listened to the misinformation and sensationalists who took things out of context and reported things such as the H1N1 virus and drug cartel wars as being much worse and more widespread than they truly were. The facts were being ignored because it did not make as good of a news story as the over-hyped, inaccurate news stories did which were filling up mainstream media.

It is a fact that the drug wars were mainly isolated in non-tourist border towns near the Texas and Arizona borders...thousands of miles away from the vacation destinations like Cancun, Los Cabos, Mazatlan etc. The H1N1 virus has proven to be more widespread than anyone ever thought it would be and did not originate in Mexico. In fact, the Mexico government did a great job addressing the virus outbreak and had it contained quickly. Those 2 media stories were sensationalized to the point that tourism in Mexico suffered a major setback.

No one should overlook Mexico as a possible destination for their next vacation getaway. It is a Country filled with something for everyone. If you are a adventure traveler...the vast mountain ranges and beautiful river gorges are a must see. In fact, Mexico boasts of the hemisphere's largest series of canyons such as the Copper Canyon region. It is in the top 5 of the world's most bio-diverse nations on earth. There are over 29,000 archeological sites in Mexico.

If you love traveling to places which offer a rich history and diverse culture, then Mexico should be on the top of your list; a place where you can see the ancient ruins of the Mayans or follow steps traveled by Spanish explorers. If you want a place to just get away from it all, there is no better option than the gorgeous palm tree laden beaches of Mexico. The people are warm and genuine. The food in every region of Mexico is some of the best in all the world. Their music speaks of life and joy and teaches you as much as it entertains.

I could go on and keep giving you reasons why Mexico is fast becoming my number 1 destination for any form of vacation. But I will let you see it for yourself.

Travel Tip of the Week...Should I pay for that upgrade??

A Traveler's Journey Through Pictures

Wanted to share my travel and life's journey through picture and song. I captured the places that I have visited and seen in my life to help me appreciate where I am and where I have been.

Travel Tip of the Week...The All-Inclusive Resort Explained

Would love to get your questions and comments. What travel question would you like to see addressed in a future post?

Travel Tip of the Week-Package Vacations

Cruise Excursion...Who Should I Book Through?

My last travel tip video was related to cruise excursions and I addressed the pro of booking the excursion through the cruise line versus going through another supplier etc. As I stated in the video, the number one pro for booking an excursion through the cruise line is that the cruise will have a record of everyone who is on any of their excursions which means they will wait for you to get back on board if your excursion happens to run a little late etc. If you go through another supplier or just decide to go on your own in any of the ports of call, you are responsible for being back on board before the scheduled departure time. The ship will leave you if you are not back and it is up to you to get to the next port or back home and at your own cost if that ever happens.

Now with that said, here are some cons for booking your excursion through the cruise line. Cost is one negative. Typically the cruise line will charge a bit more for the same excursion that could have been booked from a private excursion company. For example, a "Swim with the Dolphin" excursion in Cozumel Mexico would cost @$139.00 per person through one of the larger cruise lines while costing only $108.00 through a private excursion company. That is significant savings for a family of 4.

Another negative is the selection. If you book through the cruise line, you are limited to their selection of excursions for a particular port of call. You may do some research and find that there were choices you would have never known about that better suits your own preference and interests from some other excursion vendor.

One other negative is that you are tied to the cruise line's schedule when you book an excursion through them. They will dictate when you are to proceed to your designated excursion area and sometimes their organization is a bit lacking which means you may be late getting started and have less time at whatever you were planning on seeing or doing. For example, we had booked an excursion in Cozumel Mexico through Royal Caribbean. It was going to be a full day on a private island with lunch included. The cruise line had overbooked the excursion and neglected to tell the local tour guide in advance which meant that he had to scramble to find additional transportation to the actual excursion location. That put us off schedule by almost 2 hours which then shortened our time on the private island. Smaller, private tour companies are not reliant on what a cruise line does at the last minute and are more prone to being on time.

So in summary, if you are new to cruising, you might want to book your first excursion through the cruise line so you can get a feel of how it all works etc. But on your next cruise, feel free to look around for other alternatives and you will be pleasantly surprised to see how easy they can be to book and how reliable they are when it comes to picking you up and getting you back to the ship on time.

If you need information for some private excursion companies, please send me a message or leave on comment on this blog.

Top 10 Reasons to Use a Travel Agent

It is one of the questions I get asked from time to time, "why should I or would I use a travel agent?" Well...here 10 reasons you might want to consider it:

1. You've Googled "Mexico vacation," and come up with 17.8 million responses. Need a little help editing those choices?

2. Remember when you used that obscure website to book your hotel, and when you got there you spent your beach vacation overlooking a parking lot?

3. How many hours were you on hold with the airline when your flight was canceled because of a snowstorm?

4. Did you really mean to spend your honeymoon at that resort whose one tiny pool was filled all day with 12 screaming children?

5. Who knew that when you booked that "villa" in Tuscany, it would be a small room with a kitchenette and no air conditioning? Funny, it looked much better on your computer screen.

6. No one explained to you that in July, it's winter time in Rio, and so you showed up there with nothing but five Hawaiian shirts and three pairs of swimming trunks.

7. How about the time you really needed a restful vacation, and you ended up in New Orleans during Mardi Gras and someone threw up on your shoes?

8. Yes, I guess that hotel must have used a telephoto lens when they took a picture of those guest rooms that you saw on their website.

9. I suppose contacting the Attorney General to resolve the fact that that Internet site has billed your credit card three times instead of once is the only route to take at this point.

10. It was definitely odd that there were no cab drivers at the airport at 3 o'clock in the morning when you finally landed in Costa Rica, but booking a transfer to your very remote hotel would have been a good thing to remember when you purchased your airline ticket and hotel online.

Always remember...a travel agent's services are free to the consumer unless a specific fee has been agreed to up front for some special services to be rendered.

Adopted from an article written by Ruthanne Terrero. Please visit the following link to read her article in its entirety. Travel Agent Central