Archive for the 'Cancun' Category
Tours offer a walk, swim or ride on Mexico’s wild side
July 28, 2008 10:08am
Sure, Africa’s the place to go if you’re hoping for a safari experience with even an iota of the drama shot in the YouTube legend (over 35 million views and counting) “Battle at Kruger.” But far closer to home, Mexico offers interesting wildlife-viewing options that let you get up close and personal with the animals (without having to fear for the lives of yourselves and your kin).
In Mexico, see natural wonders including dolphins and monarch butterflies. If you’d like someone else to lead the way, consider a six-day trip offered by tour operator Natural Habitat Adventures; following are a few samples of their tours, featuring whale sharks, sea turtles and big gray whales; monarch butterfly trips, not listed below, begin in January 2009.
American Airlines’ sale on fall flights to Mexico and Caribbean
July 17, 2008 4:00pm
Come fall, will you be ready for a beach vacation away from it all? If so, have a look at what American Airlines has going for its sale to a number of destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean.
Deal: The “Caribbean and Mexico Sale” features low fares to a handful of popular locales bearing cabana-shaded sands aplenty. Destinations include Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Los Cabos and Cozumel, Mexico; other sale options are Turks and Caicos, the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas and more.
Cozumel, Mexico: 5-night diving & hotel package for $671
July 13, 2008 12:00pm
If you’re looking to tank up for a dive exploration soon, chances are you’ve considered Cozumel, Mexico, our hemisphere’s most popular scuba-diving locale. Adventure-travel agency Island Dreams Tours & Travel, whose spring special I mentioned last April, is once again offering attractive discounts for August stay-and-dive vacations in the Yucatan hotspot.
Deal: A four-day, five-night package that includes lodging, meals and diving is going for $828 for a single diver, or $671 per person based on double occupancy; taxes are included in these rates. Accommodations are at Scuba Club Cozumel, a low-key divers’ hub a mile south of downtown Cozumel’s ferry dock.
Merida, Mexico: Hacienda Xcanatun offers fourth night free
June 22, 2008 12:26pm
Hacienda Xcanatun (pronounced ssh-cana-TOON) is a 10-minute drive from the Yucatan capital, Merida, and within two hours of ancient sites such as Chichen Itza, Uxmal and Dzibilchaltun. If you want a cozy and comfortable base camp from which to explore all things Mayan, this 18-room boutique hotel seems an elegantly attractive choice. Plus, it’s offering a hot deal this summer.
Deal: Buy three nights and get a fourth night free; room rates start at $250 per night (pre-tax) and are based on double occupancy. You’ll also receive a welcome cocktail, daily breakfast at the hotel, artisan chocolates and a bottle of sparkling wine. You must call or e-mail to reserve this deal, as it is not bookable online. Ask for the “Living Luxe Package.”
Delta to cut flights to Loreto and other Mexico cities
June 20, 2008 11:52am
As reported by Los Angeles Times staff writer Peter Pae in his article “Delta cuts 13% of its LAX flights,” travelers will soon find fewer Delta Air Lines flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to destinations including Boston, Massachusetts; Columbus, Ohio; and Mexico and Latin American destinations.
Several routes to Mexico are being temporarily suspended or eliminated altogether. According to Delta spokesperson Anthony L. Black, starting in mid-August 2008, Loreto (LTO) and Manzanillo (ZLO) will no longer be serviced by Delta flights from LAX. These are permanent cancellations. Flights to León (BJX) will be suspended indefinitely starting Aug. 16, 2008.
Those planning trips to Mexico in the late summer and fall, take note:
See Mexico, Belize & Guatemala with 22-day tour
June 6, 2008 2:11pm
If you want more from a vacation than a daily collapse into a poolside cabana, but would like some help in the adventure-planning department, consider Intrepid Travel. This company runs tours for small groups all over the world, including Latin America. One that particularly caught my eye was its Mayan Highlights trip.
Over 22 days, which begin in Cancun, Mexico, and end in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, you get a real taste of the region with an active, yet not too demanding, schedule. The trip takes in not only Mexico’s Yucatan, but also Belize and Guatemala. Mexico sites include the Chichen Itza pyramids and the beaches of Tulum. In Belize, you’ll snorkel off Caye Caulker and in Guatemala, you can hike (or even paraglide) along Lake Atitlan and explore the ruins of Tikal. This is just a small sampling from the rich itinerary.
Puerto Morelos, Mexico: Book all-inclusive package by May 27
May 22, 2008 1:14pm
Craving a getaway to the Mexico’s Caribbean coast? CheapCaribbean.com is offering some attractive flight + all-inclusive hotel deals in the Riviera Maya. None that I’m seeing at the moment are steals, but they are a good value given present flight prices to Cancun.
One I’ve found for the Ocean Coral & Turquesa seems particularly able to relax every jangled nerve. The resort, which sits between Playa del Carmen and Cancun, 30 miles from Cancun Airport, could serve as a base for excursions like scuba diving, horseback-riding and checking out ruins, or you could boycott day trips entirely and happily (read: guilt-free) succumb to five resort days of eating, drinking, spa trips and flipping through magazines poolside.
Mexico: Cancun for New Year’s? Fly out of LAX instead of SAN
May 9, 2008 4:00pm
My cousin was having trouble finding decent-priced flights between San Diego (SAN) and Cancun (CUN) (Dec. 28–Jan. 2), and asked for my help. The best she found was $500 with a few stops and departure on one day and arrival on the next. So, my job is to try and beat that price or at least find her a flight for the same price that left and arrived on the same day. No red-eyes. She is willing to drive to Los Angeles if it’ll give her a decent edge. Here’s a roundup of fares I found around the Net today.
Do you regularly travel to Cancun for the holidays? Share your booking tips.
How hot are BedandBreakfast.com’s Mexico deals?
May 8, 2008 2:00pm
In the wee early hours of this morning, I received a BedandBreakfast.com Hot Deals newsletter. The deals I’m seeing to Mexico are hot — not smoking hot, but good off-season prices nonetheless.
I picked a couple of the deals to tell you about. To book either of the following (which have limited availability, warns the promo page), call the hotel directly and mention the “BedandBreakfast.com Hot Deal.” If you miss the boat, however, chances are that the hotel you’re interested in has some specials of its own going (Villa Bella, below, does).
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: Book a room at Villa Bella Bed & Breakfast Inn this month to receive a substantial discount for four-night-minimum stays now through Oct. 31, 2008.
Some airfare relief for ATA Airlines ticketholders
April 4, 2008 12:21pm
Some airlines are trying to help customers stuck with tickets on low-fare carrier ATA, which shut operations and filed for bankruptcy protection this week.
Note that current policies from the airlines, listed below, have restrictions and their policies may change without notice. Note too that these airlines may not be able to help all ticket holders. So visit the website or call the airlines to see whether you can take advantage of some of these remedies.
Northwest Airlines: On its website, Northwest says ATA customers and employees may fly stand-by ($100 fee per segment for those who get on) or book a confirmed seat ($200 per flight segment each way) to or from Hawaii and Cancun, Mexico. This offer is good through May 3, 2008. Info: (800) 225-2525.
