Plenty of choices in Mexico

via torontosun.com

Chattering teeth, runny noses, sore backs from snow shovelling - it's been a long winter and treating your kids to some sand, sea, surf and sun seems like a good idea over March break. But getting away can be expensive when you're taking the whole family. The Mexico's Mayan Riviera offers good value for money and has great options.

The Karisma chain has several choices for families - from the tot-friendly, brand new Azul Fives to a beach-front beauty called Azul Beach to a 'tween and teen-ready Azul Sensatori, you'll find the right option to get your brood in the mood for fun.

Good news: These three resorts are within an hour of the Cancun Airport, so you won't have to start off your vacation with a tediously long bus ride. Route 307 is a wonder of modern transportation engineering; no worries about safety here.

More good news: the Azul resorts are all gourmet-inclusive, so you'll find something for your picky little eater. Vegan and gluten-free options are available as well.

At Azul Beach, a barbecue lunch is served on the beach each Sunday. The fish for the feature dish is caught daily by local fishermen. Ours was the red snapper. Sitting in our bathing suits at tables on the beach, just steps from the warm Caribbean waters, sipping the resort specialty drink (called a Mosquito: tequila and tamarind juice in a glass rimmed in chili powder for the perfect sassy/sweet balance), while eating the freshest fish served by white-coated waiters - does life get any better?

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Mexico vies to become top tourist destination

via ibtimes.com

Within weeks from declaring 2011 to be Mexico's “year of tourism,” the country's president Felipe Calderon said that the government aims to make Mexico the world's top fifth tourism destination by 2018.

Currently, Mexico ranks tenth in the top 10 tourism destinations of the world, according to World Tourism Organization (WTO), he said.

Calderon stressed that to bring Mexico in top 5 slot, travel connectivity of the country from various other countries has to be increased. This would require more flight services to famous tourist spots and beach cities of Mexico, including Cancun and Acapulco, which are the top Spring Break destinations that attract students from United States and other countries during summers.

Development of tourism infrastructure, acceleration of the construction of highways, ports and airports are some of the aspects to be covered for achieving the target in tourism, both in terms of increasing the number of visitors and revenue generations, he added.

According to official figures, about 22.3 million foreign tourists visited Mexico in 2010 and about 6 million U.S. dollars was generated through tourism.

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Travel deal: Mexican resorts drop their prices

via theglobeandmail.com

$155 A NIGHT

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. is offering new (almost) all-inclusive packages starting at $155 a night for two at its Westin, Sheraton and Le Méridien resorts in Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos. The packages are available through Dec. 15, but there is an exception to the all-inclusive claim: Expect to pay 50 per cent of the cost of meals for children ages 5 to 12. To book, visit starwoodhotels.com/mexicoallinclusive.

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Ixchel Residences Joins RCI

RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE:WYN), announced it has expanded its network in Mexico through its affiliation with Ixchel Residences, a well-appointed development at north Isla Mujeres, a popular beach destination just outside Cancun.

Developed by Group I Maroma, Ixchel Residences is located less than 13 miles from Cancun International Airport and features 14 exclusive luxury villas and 117 deluxe rooms. The property offers several on-site amenities including a gym, heated pool, an area with lounge chairs on the beach and high-speed wireless Internet.

Isla Mujeres also boasts a myriad of activities including the area’s largest marina that offers various water activities such as swimming with dolphins and whale sharks, snorkeling and reef diving, kayaking, fishing and catamaran rental.
“This affiliation with RCI represents an important opportunity for us,” said Gabriel Tommasi, legal representative, Ixchel Residences Resort. “We are excited to be able to expand our business areas, provide new opportunities for our customers, and bring the beauty of Isla Mujeres to new audiences.”

via hotelinteractive.com

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New Tours Offer a Zesty Taste of the Real Mexico

via huffingtonpost.com

Still another route offers a 10-day sampling of the Maya culture, starting at the so-called "white city" of Merida on the Yucatan Peninsula. Besides stops at archaeological sites such as Chichen Itza and Tulum, the tour allows time to play at the resort areas of Cancun, the Riviera Maya and the island of Cozumel before a flight down to the country's southernmost state of Chiapas. Among showstoppers there is a river cruise through a Grand Canyon-like gorge, a visit to the shopping mecca of San Cristobal de las Casas and pyramid-climbing at the ruins of Palenque.

The other seven routes typically feature inland cities elsewhere in the country. Among their themes are "Wine country and the aquarium of the world," "The art of tequila and music under the sun" and "The magic of traditions and nature."

Collectively, the routes wind through some 90 cities around Mexico including a number of smaller towns designated as "magic cities" and UNESCO World Heritage sites.

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Cozumel Island Living Among Best In World

via thisiscozumel.com

As a global authority on island destinations with more than half a milion readers, Island Magazine's recommendations are worth listening to.

So, the inclusion of Cozumel this month as one of their World's Best Islands to Live On, is worthy praise indeed.

In their latest edition, the glossy US-based publication described Cozumel as a "colorful Mexico blended with the Caribbean's laid-back attitude [...] a social island with patient, relaxed people."

Cozumel Islands Magazine
Cozumel commended.

They named Cozumel number 16 in their list of the top 20 islands to live on, number 1 was the Big Island in Hawaii.

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Developing nations see Cancun climate deal tough | Reuters

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Reaching a binding climate deal at the upcoming U.N. conference in Mexico will likely be difficult, delegates from a group of developing nations said on Monday, spurring further doubts about a global climate accord this year.

Environment ministers from Brazil, South Africa, India and China -- known as the BASIC group -- meeting in Rio de Janeiro said developed nations have not done enough to cut their own emissions or help poor countries reduce theirs.

Delays by the United States and Australia in implementing schemes to cut carbon emissions has added to gloomy sentiment about possible results from the Cancun meeting.

"If by the time we get to Cancun (U.S. senators) still have not completed the legislation then clearly we will get less than a legally binding outcome," said Buyelwa Sonjica, South Africa's Water and Environment Affairs minister.

via af.reuters.com

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China to host climate talks before Mexico meeting

China will host an extra round of international negotiations in October aimed at fostering agreement over a new climate treaty, the United Nations' top environment official said in remarks published on Monday.

Achim Steiner, a U.N. Under-Secretary General who is director of the U.N. Environment Program, told the China Daily the extra round of negotiations would take place in the north Chinese port city of Tianjin, which is close to Beijing.

"China will introduce some new ideas and opportunities to move the negotiation forward," said Steiner, who has been visiting China.

Governments are hoping to strike agreement on a new binding climate change treaty after a summit in Copenhagen late last year ended with a weak and non-binding accord.

The newly added Tianjin talks will come in the build-up to the next major ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico, from Nov. 29-Dec. 10, when climate officials hope to agree on the key elements of a new treaty, if not the details.

via af.reuters.com

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Baseball4Christ's first trip to Mexico becomes 'life-changing' experience

Brian Morgan assembled Baseball4Christ's first offering of its missionary work in their waning moments together as a week-long baseball team during a mission trip to Cancun, Mexico.

The goal of a final talk was to measure the internal impact of the trip from June 20-26 had on the 12 teenagers seated in front of him.

He'd soon find out that among a majority, their recent trip to Mexico had been "life-changing."

Included among the 19 on a mission trip to Cancun were a dozen players, split among each of Coweta County's three public high-schools. Outside of a few teammates, most knew each other, at best, as occasional opponents this spring on area diamonds.

The plan for the trip called for the group to spend their days in the surrounding Barrios, spreading their messages both of the Gospel and baseball through daily clinics where they could also distribute donated equipment that had been shipped from Georgia to be given to the Mexican children.

via times-herald.com

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Harris joining Valpo teammates for series in Mexico

via suburbanchicagonews.com

Jay Harris is getting a jumpstart on his collegiate career.

The former Oswego East basketball standout has started classes this summer at Valparaiso University, where he signed a national letter of intent for a basketball scholarship after the high school season ended.
» Click to enlarge image
Former Oswego East star Jay Harris (left), now a freshman at Valparaiso University, will join his teammates when they head to Cancun, Mexico, in August for a series of games against international competition.
(Sun-Times Media File)

And next month, Harris will join coach Homer Drew's team when they head to Cancun, Mexico, for a series of games (Aug. 8-13) against international competition.

"It will give him a chance to adjust and a chance to play with his teammates before everything starts in the fall," Drew said.

"He has started summer school. He's here on campus so he will be coming with us."

Harris, a smooth-shooting 6-foot-1 guard who can play the 1 or 2 spot, was the lone recruit signed by Drew this offseason.

Because the trip has been sanctioned by the NCAA, Drew's team will be allowed to practice for 10 days prior to the trip.

"We're going to be able to get a jumpstart on the season," Drew told the Northwest Times of Indiana. "This will give us an early chance to evaluate our guys and this is the first time that we've ever gone international since I've been here."

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India to host 'dress rehearsal' for Mexico

India will host a two-day ministerial round on climate technology transfer and cooperation in November before the year's big UN meet on the subject in Mexico. The meeting of ministers is intended to thrash out a deal on how the rich countries can share clean technologies with the developing world.

The calendar for the year is packed with informal and formal international meetings on climate as a run up to the Cancun, Mexico, meeting where countries would try to at least come up with few partial pacts as a full package deal is not expected to come through before 2011. India's attempt to push for technology transfer and cooperation is in sync with its effort all through the last year in asking the global community to set up innovation centres that would help develop new technologies with the rights over it being held in a common pool as was done for agriculture in the CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) model.

Union environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh made the offer to host the meeting at the Major Economies Forum meeting that concluded on Wednesday in Rome.

The meeting also saw a strong pitch by the minister to incorporate the principles of equity and carbon space sharing in the negotiations.

via timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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New flights from Lansing to include Cancun, Jamaica, Las Vegas

Apple Vacations and Sun Country Airlines are teaming up to add flights at Capital Region International Airport.

Airport officials said today that Sun Country plans to start nonstop service from Lansing to Cancun, Mexico, in December. USA 3000 Airlines previously flew the route.

Sun Country also is adding flights from Lansing to Orlando and Ft. Myers, Fla.; Las Vegas; and Montego Bay, Jamaica. The airline plans to start the routes Dec. 22.

The Cancun and Montego Bay flights will be seasonal, operating through May 1, 2011. Sun Country initially will offer seasonal service to the Florida and Las Vegas destinations, but hopes demand will be strong enough to make those flights year-round.

Sun Country is offering introductory fares on the routes. They range from $89 one-way to Orlando to $199 one-way to Montego Bay. Apple Vacations will offer all-inclusive packages for Cancun and Montego Bay that include flights and lodging.

Apple Vacations had started seasonal service to Cancun last year using planes flown by USA 3000 Airlines. Sun Country is a Minneapolis-based leisure carrier.

via lansingstatejournal.com

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Grand Velas RM recognized as best all-inclusive resort, Mexico

Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort Riviera Maya was honored with the 2010 WAVE Award in the category of “Best All-Inclusive Resort, Mexico” on June 10 in Beverly Hills as part of the TravelAge West WAVE (Western Agents’ Votes of Excellence) Awards. The award was presented to Fernando Garcia Rossette, Grand Velas Riviera Maya’s Managing Director, by TravelAge West Publisher Michelle Rosenberg during the 2010 WAVE Awards Gala held at the Four Seasons Hotel.

“We are very proud to be recognized as the Best All Inclusive Resort by our colleagues in the travel industry and by one of the top trade publications in the U.S.,” said Garcia Rossette.

Travel agent professionals throughout the 14 Western states and readers of TravelAge West were invited to vote on the best-of-the-best from a list of Editor’s Pick award recipients that were chosen after careful review by Editor-in-Chief Ken Shapiro and the editorial team of TravelAge West. Review methods included product analysis, on-site visits, a survey of a select group of travel agents and online research.

“The WAVE Awards are a celebration of excellence in travel products, services and destinations,” said Rosenberg. “This year’s WAVE winners have consistently demonstrated excellence within the travel marketplace.”

via traveldailynews.com

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Angelina Jolie And Family Jet To Cancun For Salt Junket

via x17online.com

Angelina Jolie loaded up her kids on a Sony-hired Gulfstream IV this afternoon, on her way to the Salt press junket in Cancun.

Brad didn't accompany Angie and the kids on the private plane, but don't worry, looks like Angelina has the help of a nanny while she tends to business in Mexico. Angelina and the kids will apparently stay in Cancun through the July 4th holiday, with Brad possibly joining them later on.

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Virgin America Will Go South of the Border to Cancun and Cabo

via jaunted.com

At this very moment, Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin Group, is announcing the next two destinations for the low-cost airline Virgin America and they are as we expected: Cabo San Lucas and Cancun, from both San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The announcement comes at the start of a huge party at SFO to mark Virgin America's first route over the border into Canada, to Toronto to be more specific. The party is where we're at right now, and while we're trying not to invade the personal space of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, we can't help but be excited for the future south of the border flights. We're just waiting for someone to start chanting "VX to MEX!"

Virgin America CEO David Cush says that there's no official date yet set for the first Mexico flights, but we're guessing they'll begin when fall temperatures drop the US back into jacket weather and people start dreaming of hot sun and bikinis again.

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Whale Shark Festival academic conference program announced

via travelio.net

Noted marine biologists from some of the world’s most prestigious research institutions will present their research at the Third Annual Whale Shark Festival in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, this July, it was announced today.

The scientists – who hail from the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, the Center for Shark Research/Mote Marine Laboratory in Florida and Mexico’s Project Domino -- will discuss marine conservation and whale shark preservation during an Academic Conference to be held concurrently with the Whale Shark Festival July 16-18, 2010 in Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

"It’s exciting for the Georgia Aquarium to continue working with Project Domino in studying the whale sharks of Quintana Roo. The waters of the Yucatan are home to the most exceptional gathering of whale sharks known to science and a host of other beautiful and important marine species,” said Dr. Al Dove, Senior Scientist, Georgia Aquarium and presenter at the Whale Shark Festival. “The ongoing oil spill elsewhere in the Gulf of Mexico shows us how vulnerable these marine ecosystems can be, so research and conservation is more important than ever. For all these reasons, it is a privilege to be a marine biologist working in this region, at this time."

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Valparaiso heading to Cancun in August

Valparaiso's men's basketball team will be taking a business trip in August -- to Cancun.

The Crusaders will get a headstart on the season, traveling to the Mexican resort town from Aug. 8-13,  giving them 10 extra days of practice and four or five games against international competition.

The NCAA permits teams to take such a trip once every four years, but this will be Valparaiso's first. VU coach Homer Drew finally got the green light from the athletic department this year, under the condition that he raise the funds through alumni donations.

"It's the first time in my 22 years that we're able to go on an international trip," said Drew, who said he has "most" of the money raised. "There's wonderful value to it. We get 10 extra practice dates, and we get to play some games, which really should give us a jumpstart for the season in the fall."

Drew said it's too early to know what teams VU will face, but they likely will be college and professional teams from Central America. NCAA rules forbid a team from playing any other American colleges on such a trip. It's not a formal tournament, but rather an informal series of games.

via blogs.post-trib.com

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Kilgore man brings joy of diving to customers

via news-journal.com

Drive by the shop on any old morning, and the sign in the window says it's open. Come back at midnight. Same sign, still open.

"I have customers who will call me at 10 o'clock at night and say they're coming over," says shop owner Eddie Francis, with a chuckle.

"I live around back, so it's no problem."

Francis is 60 years old. He has a graying beard and the wiry frame of a man who's been diving all his adult life. He credits the old TV show "Sea Hunt" for piquing his interest in all things underseas.

"People don't just drive by and see a scuba shop and say, 'Hey, I think I want to scuba,' " he explained.

Though impulse divers may be few and far between, Francis sells gear at his shop, organizes an annual diving trip to Cozumel, and teaches certification classes to around 150 students every year. During winter classes, his students dive in the warm waters of Pirkey Lake, and in the summer they complete their training at Tyler State Park.

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`Climate conference in Cancun should produce realistic result`

United Nations: Underlining the need to build on the outcome of the climate change conference in Copenhagen, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for "a realistic result" at the upcoming climate meet in Cancun at the end of the year.

Addressing world leaders at the G20 Summit in Toronto, Ban said it would not be quick or easy to reach a comprehensive global agreement.

But it would be possible to achieve a meaningful, realistic result in Cancun, according to his office.

"The risks and costs of inaction on climate change grow each year. The more we delay, the more we will pay," he said.

After a lengthy process of negotiations in Copenhagen in December 2009, which have been widely regarded as unsatisfactory, the parties could not produce a legally binding treaty and instead agreed to "take note" of the Copenhagen Accord.

via zeenews.com

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Christina Aguilera Promotes Burlesque In Mexico

via rnbmusicblog.com

She has been doing a lot of promotions but she hasn’t been doing well on the charts, but Christina Aguilera didn’t seem to mind since she was at a party over the weekend pushing her new film ‘Burlesque’ which was held in Cancun, Mexico.

The film includes stars like Cher and Kristen Bell and Cam Giganet, and the director is Steve Antin who is related to Robin Antin (founder of the Pussycat Dolls and Girlicious) .
Xtina was photographed partying but the pictures do not include Cher though as she didn’t attend the party for some reason.

The film is going to be released in November and there is going to be a soundtrack for the ‘Burlesque’ movie. I think that even with Burlesque, it isn’t going to save her career because of the media that is always trying to find something negative.

What do you think? Do you think Christina will come back better?

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