Travel to Cancun and the Mayan Riviera has been booming over the years, and it’s only getting more and more popular. With its beautiful white sandy beaches, luxurious resort properties, and a wide variety of activities to do, the Mayan is always the top destination for Winnipeg travellers each year and provides countless options for things to do and see.
When travelling to the Mayan Riviera, one will fly into the Cancun airport and then take the drive down to the Riviera area, which can be up to 2 hours depending on which resort you are staying at.

Good news: This is all going to change come 2014!

It looks like a new airport is going to be built in the southern area of Tulum, which will service all passengers who will be vacationing south of Cancun.

The future airport will have capacity for up to 3 million passengers each year. It will be built between the popular tourist resort areas of Tulum and Playa Del Carmen, which will shave off quite a bit of travel time for those who are used to flying into Cancun.
Tulum is an extremely popular archaeological site, and is currently the 3rd most visited location for historic ruins.
This change is set to become a huge boost for the Mexican economy, which is bound to create more buzz for travel to this beautiful hotspot.

We are keeping a close eye on more information as we receive it, but for now this is what we have to date.
Stay tuned for more updates!

Picture this: a 10,700-square foot home with breathtaking ocean views, your own private pool, outdoor Jacuzzi for 10, an outdoor living area with a brick pizza oven and gas grill all at your disposal.

Where is this couples’ haven, you ask? Well, it’s in the Mayan Riviera!

Karisma Resorts is the proud owner of the Azul Villa Carola, an intimate beachfront villa that can hold 2 -20 people. It’s a 6-bedroom, 6-bathroom secluded paradise that gives the feel of a vacation home while you still have access to the Gourmet-Inclusive Azul Beach Hotel, the neighboring resort which is part of the Karisma chain. You can either choose to have your personal butler serve you dinner in your own beachfront gazebo, or check out one of the Gourmet restaurants at the Azul Beach Hotel. It’s all there for you to enjoy.

When planning your destination wedding, you will have the assistance of an on-site wedding coordinator to help with your details. Also included is the filing of documents, Justice of the Peace, a wedding photographer, complimentary Bridal registry and website, flowers for both the bride and groom, as well as a private chef for a night. Your master suite will be decorated for the wedding night, with breakfast in bed the following morning.

Couples can also opt for the Gourmet Inclusive Royal package, where you will arrive to your destination in style with roundtrip limo service for 12 people, and also enjoy extra amenities at the villa which include full bar, aromatherapy menu, pillow menu, private beach butler, Bvlgari bathroom amenities, a private chef to prepare 3 meals a day, candlelight lobster dinner for 12 at the Sky Aqua Pier, a party with exclusive DJ and a private yacht trip for 20!

We know what you’re thinking: sure, it’s great to have the gang share our big day with us but what about our privacy? Well, the guests can stay at the Azul Beach Hotel while the couple stays at the Azul Villa Carola. That’s the best part of it! Keep the villa for yourselves, or share the fun with your wedding party.

Take a look at this spectacular villa for yourself at http://www.karismahotels.com/resort/azul-villa-carola-karisma and see why you should consider having your wedding in this luxurious island getaway!

But then there’s a moment of unbelievable tragedy that occurs that becomes headline news, and then and only then do most travellers become more in tune on how important having such coverage while away from their home country actually is, and unfortunately as much as we don’t like to have our message heard during such a tragic time, it’s probably the best time to really let people know that they should not travel without it while their attention is heightened during such tragic events!

I strongly believe that many travellers understand the value and importance of having travel medical coverage, due to the nature of extremely high medical costs in certain countries. But when it comes to Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, I’m certain to this day there is still a vague understanding of its purpose and why it would be just as important as having travel medical coverage.

What Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance Covers

Before I tell you what trip cancellation and Interruption insurance covers you, I’m first going to tell you what it doesn’t cover.

· It does not cover you for medical expenses for any un-expected medical illness or injury, that’s what your travel medical insurance will cover.

However, it can protect your non-refundable financial investment in the case that if you did fall ill or become injured prior to departing on your trip or vacation. It won’t pay the medical bills, but it will reimburse you for any non-refundable costs that are qualified under the protection plan.

Trip Cancellation Prior To Your Departure Date

Let’s say prior to your travel date you go outside to shovel your walk-way. Of course this wouldn’t apply to people living in areas that never see snow, but follow me on this example anyways.

Now as you’re shovelling you hit an icy patch and wind up breaking your hip. Depending on when this happens, if you go for surgery, and your doctor says that you will not be healed in time for your vacation, this would be covered under your Cancellation policy and you would get all your money back.

Trip Interruption during Your Trip or Vacation

Where trip Interruption would come into play is the moment you arrive at your destination outside your residing country. Here’s one example:

Like the tragic explosion that took place at the Grand Riviera Princess Resort in Mexico, no one ever imagined something like that would happen, and that’s the point we try to put across to our clients that claim that nothing will ever happen to them when they travel!

God forbid anything does ever happen, but on the morning of November 14, 2010, guests having a relaxing breakfast never had the thought in their minds that an explosion was about to occur, and that’s what we mean by un-expected incidences.

You see what followed that day was disbelief, confusion, and shock, especially for guests that had loved ones passed away during that horrible event.

Of course Westjet Vacations was one of the travel suppliers that arranged many Canadian travellers to this resort property, and they did everything possible to accommodate the situation by flying people home early if they wished. They also had an extra plane fly in to accommodate any quests looking to get you back home right away.

But what if you decided to stay and finish off the remainder of your vacation, and later in the week the Mexican Consulate issues an evacuation notice of all guests off the property due to security reasons. The fact that you know have to leave under evacuation orders, not only means you missed the complimentary flight back home, but also means you need to find your own way home via a one-way flight ticket. A one way ticket can easily cost out of pocket around a $1000 or more

This all depends if you can arrange another charter flight with the same vacation company you dealt with originally. So if you required to fly home on a scheduled airline and they happen to only have executive class seats left, you could easily be paying upwards from $3000 – $5000 per person.

Then factor in if your flight has to connect through other cities, has an overnight where you need to stay in a hotel and pay for meals, plus phone calls to notify your place of employment. In the end these expenses will really add up, and these out of pocket costs could easily be avoided if you have Cancellation and Interruption coverage.

Please don’t let tragic situations like what happened in the Mayan Riviera at the Grand Riviera Princess Resort be your wake up call. In my strongest opinion, you should never leave your country of residence without travel medical or trip cancellation/Interruption coverage. Even if at the time you feel it’s an inconvenient expense you could do without, keep in mind that our world works in mysterious ways, and you never want to be caught without coverage that may have you paying for it for the rest of your life!

Last week, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines announced the characters from our favorite Dreamworks movies are going to be sailing with guests onboard the Oasis of the Seas, in addition to their other ship, Allure of the Seas. As the characters will start sailing on the Allure in December, the gang will join the Oasis on a very familiar date. February 26^th, 2011!

Yes, they will join the Oasis on our actual group cruise departure! How cool is that! Now families and any guest that wants to can party with Shrek and his friends, the Madagascar crew, Kung Fu Panda, and How to Train Your Dragon! Guests can partake in fun activities onboard , such as meeting the characters and taking a picture, watching an aqua show starring the characters, enjoy character meals, and even watch movies in the 3D theatre, or in the comfort of your stateroom!

I’m already excited for the cruise, but this news made me even more pumped for it! I think this is going to be an awesome addition to the cruising experience, especially for families! Add it on to the tons of fun that will already be on the Oasis of the Seas, of course! If you want to be part of our group cruise and meet the gang, we’re only a phone call or email away.

Okay, okay. I know this is really more geared to children, but seriously! As if there’s another Sesame Street character coming to Beaches Resorts!

Beaches is already home to Elmo, Zoe, Grover, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, the Count (my personal favorite) and Bert & Ernie in case you don’t know. I just found out today that another favorite character is joining the group. It’s none other than Big Bird!

Big Bird will be joining the gang on August 22^nd at Beaches Turks & Caicos, and Beaches Negril in Jamaica. Each Sesame Street character allows the children to take part in special character activities, like Story Time with Elmo, Learning to Dance with Zoe, Exploring with Grover, Making Cookies with Cookie Monster, Making Music with Bert & Ernie, Discovering Magical Treasures with Abby Cadabby. You can also have a character breakfast with them, too! How cute! I wonder what Big Bird’s activity will be?

Beaches is also introducing a new crafts program with Martha Stewart. Kids can participate in 5 new classes where they’ll be able to scrapbook, stencil, paint, and glitter. The Post Card, Punch and Stencil Fashion and Glitter classes are recommended for family members six and up with Scrapbooking and Stencil Fashion classes recommended for ages nine and up. Costs for most classes are $10USD per child.

Lots going on at Beaches resorts, as you can see! They are a great option for family vacations, and to make things even better, they are offering 2 free nights and up to 65% off your stay if you travel in September, October or November. If you’re interested for more information and pricing, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Several years ago I had the opportunity to visit the Cayman Island via a Caribbean cruise, and couldn’t believe how spectacular this little island gem could be. From that day forward I always wanted to go back and visit, because spending only one day there, I felt was not enough.

There was never a moment I did not feel unsafe, and the people were extremely friendly and spoke excellent English.

Back To Talking About Hell – Grand Cayman!

Seriously, one of the major attractions on the main Grand Cayman island is a small town called Hell, and when you take a  moment to visit this town, and I mean a small moment, you will come across a little post office which dates back to the early 1960’s that was built for the very reason to allow guests to send postcards back home to their loved ones postmarked from Hell.

Of course the theme caught on, because nothing was funnier than sending a postcard that came straight from Hell.

How did this little town get this infamous title? Simple, when you get there you can view a spectacular rock formation that  dates back almost 1.5 million years ago, and was told to be created by weathered ironshore consisting of coral or bivalve fragments. This eerie black rock formation is none the less spectacular to view, and I’m sure depending on who you talk to, would have several different interpretations.

Once you take a quick visit to the town of Hell, and send off your postcards, leaving Hell is just as fun as arriving there, and with so much to do and see in the Cayman’s, your time in Hell should be short and sweet.

The Cayman’s Consist of Three Islands That Each Offer Unique Experiences

There is the Grand Cayman Island, where the town of Hell is located. This main island offers a variety of other attractions, including the extremely popular Stingray City! This has to be one of the most spectacular places to visit, and the fact that you have an opportunity to feed and pet live stingrays in their natural habitat is very cool.

Other attractions on the Grand Cayman Island to visit are Boatswain’s Beach (Cayman Turtle Farm), Rum Point, and if you’re in to Flora and Fauna, the Grand Cayman’s Q. E. II Botanic Park. Back to the Turtle Farm, you have the opportunity to see over 16,000 turtles ranging from only 6 ounces and all the way up to an incredible 600 pounds!

Cayman Brac is the next island of this small chain that offers a very unique experience when you visit, from awe inspiring cliffs, to extraordinary caves and sinkholes for the avid explorer. However, what brings people back to the Cayman Brac is the scuba diving.

The smallest and least inhabited of the island chain is the Little Cayman. There it’s all about the relaxation, scuba diving and fishing. You will find divers from all over the world experiencing the famous Bloody Bay Wall and Jackson point combined offering over 6000 feet of colourful Coral gardens!

If spending private time is your thing, then you will be content on many of the empty beaches available, or make your way to South Hole Sound Lagoon for a private swim. If you enjoy fishing and wildlife exploring, this little Cayman Island is for you.

You Can Access The Cayman Islands By Air Or Sea!

What’s great about the Cayman’s is the accessibility from air or sea. Many airlines fly there from a variety of gateways in Canada and the United States, including a selection of vacation charters that enjoy sending vacationers to the Cayman Islands. Not to mention the numerous cruise ships that offer the Cayman as one of their popular port stops for the day, and that’s a great way to have a small taste of the island and what it has to offer.

If you’re looking for a little piece of paradise with so much to offer in sightseeing, activities, and delicious cuisine, the Cayman Islands are a must visit. For such a small island, it rivals many of the major Caribbean Islands out there today!

Remember when you visit the Cayman’s, don’t forget to make a trip to the town of Hell, because from that day forward, if anyone ever tells you to go to Hell, you can respond, I’ve been there.

I had someone just ask this question less than a week ago, and my first response was, no way! I told them that a cruise ship would never leave a port without you, but as I did a little bit of research on this topic, I came across this great cruise information site, this is when I stumbled on a YouTube video that was showing a couple running for their lives as the cruise ship was sailing away.

Now this is the first time I have ever heard of this happening, so I’m not exactly sure how often passengers are left stranded at the port scratching their head wondering where their ride went.

As a travel professional I take this situation very seriously, because as some of you may find this quite humorous, I can’t imagine the expense it would cost someone to find their way to the next port of call, or the cost of a one-way flight back home. I question the fact that if the cruise lines keep possession of your passport, how are you able to obtain a flight without it if the airlines require you present one at time of boarding.

I encourage you to watch this video of this poor couple that missed the ship, and listen as the couple taking the video talk about the situation. It’s kind of surreal, but a reality in this case:

Here Are A Couple Of Valuable Tips So Hopefully This Doesn’t Happen To You!

Alright, you’re planning to go on your very first cruise, you just watched this video, and you’re thinking that now you don’t want to leave the ship. Don’t worry, because if you follow a couple of my tips, you can experience all that each port has to offer without the fear of your cruise ship setting sail and leaving you behind.

Tour Tip #1:

Even though it’s true that when you purchase excursions and tours from the cruise lines that they’re more expensive, but with that price comes a guarantee. It’s always best to verify with the cruise lines prior to purchasing your tours with them whether they have a policy to wait for you if you happen to be late or something goes wrong during your tour that causes delay. Most cruise ships offer this guarantee, and for the extra money you pay, is peace-of-mind.

Please Note: After reading some comments on the Internet, there was a case where a couple did purchase a cruise ship tour, however, even though the tour company did bring them back to the ship on time, this couple decided to venture off to take some pictures. The fact that this couple returned and were recorded by the tour company as being back, didn’t matter to the cruise company, because the fact they ventured off after the tour. The cruise company claimed they were not responsible for the couple not getting onboard the ship. Just keep this in mind if and when you do book a tour with the cruise ship.

Tour Tip #2:

If you’re not willing to pay the over inflated tour prices from the cruise company, and you’re more inclined to venture out to find a bargain, my best advice is to embark as early as you possibly can, preferably in the morning, and go find a tour or excursion you would like to do that will be completed early in the day. You see even if something were to happen where the tour was delayed, you will still have time to make arrangements to get back before the required boarding time.

Tour Tip #3:

You know the old say “ @#%$&! happens”, or “Murphy’s Law”, well take that to heart whether you’re on a cruise vacation or even a land vacation, because if something is going to go bad, you may not have control over the situation. Being prepared for a worst case scenario is the best medicine you can prescribe yourself.

- Take extra ID, I recommend that you take it with you while on you tour, along with a photocopy of your passport. If for any reason you need ID to get another passport issued or book a flight.

- Take a small bag with extra clothes and some personal amenities, such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant. If you get stranded and have to overnight at your current destination, at least you won’t have to pay for extra amenities.

- Last but not least. Make sure you have cash on you, and possibly your bank card. Chances are the port you’re visiting will have access to a national bank that will allow you to do withdraw cash or cash transfers if needed.

In conclusion to this unfortunate incident is that proper planning and being aware of your time is extremely important, and if you happen to lose track of time and the ship leaves without you, well that’s an expensive lesson learned, right? However, there is a possibility where an unexpected situation occurs and it’s totally out of your control, so it’s always best to be prepared even though you may think it will never happen to you.

I hope you found this information helpful, and it will allow you to enjoy your next cruise vacation without the worry that the couple in the video had to experience.

Well there’s no question millions of people are going to be glued to their television sets next Wednesday evening as the new American Idol will be crowned with the victory. Now after the season finally, many of you may be dreaming of the 2011 season, and who will be the lucky person to be chosen to sing among millions of potential screaming fans.

Sounds exciting I bet, but one problem. You have to line up among thousands of potential contestants for hours to fight for limited spots, right? What if we tell you that there may be a loophole and it all starts at Disneyworld. Say What! What you talking about Willis?

Yup! Disneyworld has been successfully running the American Idol Experience for almost a year now, where you could have the opportunity to be that lucky contestant to move to the front of the line at the next American Idol auditions. Sounds to good to be true, don’t take my word for it, check out these videos below that will explain everything to you.

Just think about it, go to Disneyworld and have a fun vacation and in the process try and become a singing sensation!

For information on how you can take part in the American Idol Experience, we encourage you to visit Disneyworld’s website where most if not all your questions will be answered. Click this link here: Disneyworld’s American Idol Experience! Good luck and say hi to Mickey and Donald for me while you’re down there.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/05/17/bc-flightcancelled.html

It’s true: beware of online travel sites that promise amazing cheap prices! You could be paying double in the long run, and deal with so many headaches in the process.

What Should I Look For?

If you do not see the “IATA” symbol on the travel website, stay away! “IATA” is the International Air Transport Authority, and if you’re booking on a website that is not a member of IATA, they can’t ticket your reservation. You don’t want to be caught in a position where a 3^rd party company could be issuing your ticket – or worse off, not even issuing it at all and you dealing with the consequences when you check in for your supposed flight!

What’s this about Price Changes?

Another thing that could happen is, you want to book a flight, and you go through the whole booking process. You get to the final page, and now you get a message saying your price has changed! Why does this happen? Prices are never guaranteed until your ticket is actually issued. Meaning, the price can change at the very last minute. The online travel sites lure you in with the lower prices, but the clincher is, that price likely is not available!

How Can I Avoid This From Happening?

Simple. If you book online, make sure the company you’re booking through is a member of IATA. Also, ensure that you will be on top of your reservation from beginning to end, and that also means reconfirming your flights 72 hours prior to your departure. Or, better yet, you can always book through a travel agent. Our job is to be here for you and take care of your trip from start to finish, and you don’t have to worry about any hassles at all.

I’m not trying to use this as a plug to use a travel agent, but more as an awareness to just be careful when you think you’re getting an amazing deal online. Use your gut instincts: if you think a price is too good to be true, it probably is.

What Exactly Are Green Hotels?

Green hotels are properties that are following environmentally friendly procedures to help save water, energy and to reduce waste. This is why you’ll see the signs in your hotel room to hang your towels once you’ve used them, to show that you’ll use them again, and also why there’s the water saving shower head in the bathtub, to name a few ideas. When looking for green hotels, they will prominently display their green status in their property description. For example, the Wyndham hotels have a separate website for their green intentions, at www.wyndhamgreen.com.

What Does It Mean To Offset Carbon Emissions?

When we take a flight, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere and this contributes to climate change. Airlines such as Air Canada have a note as you’re booking a flight stating that you can offset your carbon emissions. Basically, one can calculate the cost of their share of the emissions created by their flight and purchase corresponding offsets. For example, a round-trip flight from Vancouver to Toronto will equal 0.7 total emissions (tonnes of CO2 per flight), resulting in an offset cost of $11.20CAD. It’s really not a lot once you look at it that way!

Traveling green is as easy as taking the above steps, and also being considerate to the earth while on vacation, such as taking public transportation, trying to take as direct a flight as possible, eating organic foods while dining out, using reusable water bottles, and of course, keeping our Earth beautiful by not littering!

What are your thoughts on traveling green? Is it something that you try to do, or is it a concern to you? We’d love to hear your comments and thoughts. Leave a message here, or visit our fan page on Facebook under Bill & Maria’s – The Traveling Agent.