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Mexico’s Riviera Maya: The New Caribbean Vacation Hotspot

by: Barry deCocq

Travelers who are looking for a fantastic all-inclusive resort destination that is priced far below most tropical destinations in and around the Caribbean should look into Mexico’s Riviera Maya. This area has fast become a very popular tropical vacation getaway for travelers from around the world. The Riviera Maya is located on the Caribbean side of Mexico and encompasses the stretch of coastline ranging from about 5 miles to 60 miles south of Cancun.

Don’t be misled into thinking that because you fly into Cancun to get to the Riviera Maya that it is anything like Cancun and its spring break, party-like atmosphere…it is far from it. The Riviera Maya has been set aside by the Mexican government as a semi-protected area, and as such it cannot become the touristy, high-rise resort type of destination you find in the Cancun hotel zone. Resorts can only be built 3-stories or less in height and they have to be constructed to embrace the surrounding vegetation, wildlife, and topography. It is a much more family-friendly and romantic vacation destination.

Resorts in the Riviera Maya are primarily all-inclusive properties. Because of the remote locations of many of the properties there are very few offsite dining areas. All-inclusive resorts give the traveler the benefit of having everything paid for prior to their arrival. All meals, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), non-motorized watersports, and other amenities are included in package prices. The more upscale all-inclusive resorts of 4-star and higher quality typically have many different restaurant options ranging from buffet to world-class a la carte cuisine….all-included! Some of the more popular resort chains in the Riviera Maya include Iberostar Resorts, Palace Resorts, and Secrets Resorts & Spas. Resorts run anywhere from more family-related types of properties or resorts for the budget-minded to very upscale adults-only spa resorts.

One of the best reasons to choose the Mexico Riviera Maya for your next vacation is not just for the superb quality resorts and great value, but also for the fantastic tours and excursions that are available in around the Yucatan Peninsula region. This area is teeming with Mayan ruins and ancient architecture that are very popular with tourists. The most majestic of the local Mayan ruins are the pyramids of Chichen Itza. These incredibly preserved pyramids date back to 400AD and this awe-inspiring tour will leave with you many wonderful memories. There are many other Mayan ruins tours you can take as well. In addition to ruins you can also experience many eco-based tours that take you to game and marine preserves where you will find amazing wildlife and snorkeling that is nothing short of amazing. Another popular day-trip for those staying in the Riviera Maya region is the island of Cozumel. You can reach this quaint island by ferry from the town of Playa del Carmen located in the heart of the Riviera Maya. It is a short 45 minute ferry ride and once there you will find duty-free shopping, great dining, and some of the world’s best SCUBA diving and snorkeling.

If you have taken tropical vacations in the Caribbean or Hawaii and are looking for a new destination to go to the Riviera Maya is an excellent choice that will definitely impress and have you ready to come back to again and again.

About The Author

Barry deCocq is a co-owner and managing director of Tropical Sands Vacations (http://www.tropicalSands.com), a discount Mexico and Caribbean travel brokerage specializing in all-inclusive resorts. Contact at info@tropicalsands.com.

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Luxury Hotel Rooms At Lowest Prices For Top Holiday Destinations

by: Chloe Lim

Whether you like to spend your holidays in the snow, sand or seaside, you can find the best hotel deals in the most popular destinations of the world. Below are some of the most popular holiday destinations with links to book luxury hotel rooms at lowest prices.

Amsterdam

A confident mix of old and new, Amsterdam, capital city of The Netherlands, features beautiful 17th- and 18th-century buildings and boasts some world-class museums, most notably the Van Gogh Museum, and the Rijksmuseum, home to some of the world’s finest artworks, including those by famous Dutch artist Rembrandt. Nightlife in Amsterdam is as mixed as the city itself, with something for everyone’s tastes available. A trip to Amsterdam would not be complete without renting a bicycle (Holland has more bicycles than residents), or cruising down the canals by boat.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Amsterdam.htm

Barcelona

Barcelona is the Mediterranean metropolis of excellence and yet at the same time open to all cultural influences flowing in from beyond the Pyrenees. Its well-ordered and proportioned town grid has given it quarters of unrivalled beauty, such as the Gothic Quarter, Las Ramblas and the modernist Paseo de Gracia.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Barcelona.htm

Brussels

The capital of Belgium, Brussels, is a cosmopolitan city, with liveliness and an appeal that are intimately related to its role as a crossroads for all of Europe. The many aspects of Brussels are expressed in the four quarters of the city. The Lower Town, which extends from Manneken Pis via the Grand Place to the Botanique. The Royal District in the Upper Town occupies the area between the Warande and the Palace of Justice. In the North of the city lies the Heizel with the Atomium and Bruparck. Just outside the city centre visitors will find the Cinquantenaire park and the European District facet.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Brussels.htm

Edinburgh

Scotland’s capital Edinburgh, is perhaps the country’s most alluring city, it is a fascinating place with many historical and artistic treasures, a fantastic pub scene and scenery as beautiful as the Scottish highlands. Edinburgh Castle is a good place to start your exploration of the Scottish capital. The castle is beautiful, mysterious, romantic and a reminder of the city’s bloody past. Edinburgh’s Royal Mile is one of the world’s most captivating streets.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Edinburgh.htm

London

London, the capital city of England, is energetic, cosmopolitan, hectic, diverse and thrilling. It is the largest city in Europe, and is a mixture of wealth and poverty, of glitz and grime, of imposing buildings and elegant shops, of world-class theatre and incredible nightclubs. Sights not to be missed include the National Gallery, the Tate Gallery, the British Museum, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and Covent Garden.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/London.htm

Melbourne

Multicultural Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia behind Sydney. Located on the Yarra River at the mouth of Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne is a city of style, of Victorian architecture, of trams, of fashion, food, theatres, art galleries, and leafy gardens. It is a sport-mad city, which hosts events such as the Australian Tennis Open, the Australian Formula One Grand Prix, and the premier horse race, the race that ‘stops a nation,’ the Melbourne Cup. The “Great Ocean Road” is a popular drive for tourists and locals alike, acknowledged as one of the world’s most spectacular coastal drives, visitors can view the spectacular site of the Twelve Apostles.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Melbourne.htm

Paris

Paris is the economic, artistic, historic, and cultural capital of France. It is also deeply traditional, almost village-like and in parts, a dilapidated metropolis, which houses around 2 million people. The river Seine bisects the city, the Right Bank is home to the grand boulevards and most monumental buildings, many dating from Haussmann’s nineteenth-century redevelopment. The Left Bank has a noticeably different feel, it has an atmosphere of Bohemian, dissident, intellectual connotations, and it shows in Paris’ best range of bars and restaurants. The Eiffel Tower is Paris’ most famous and instantly recognizable landmark. The Champs-Elysees is the city’s most well-known boulevard. Elegant and broad, it links Place de la Concorde with the Arc de Triomphe.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Paris.htm

Prague

The capital Prague, largest city of the Czech Republic, and former capital of Czechoslovakia, is located on both banks of the Vltava River. Visitors are drawn to the ‘fairy tale’ characteristics of Prague, but this is only part of its lively blend of styles. Prague is unquestionably a city best explored on foot, the entire central area has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city centre is like an enormous open-air museum with an interesting mix of architectural innovation including Renaissance, Baroque, Gothic, Romanesque, Cubist and Art Nouveau styles.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Prague.htm

Rome

Rome combines a sense of living history with a bustling, lively capital city. It is endlessly fascinating, utterly compelling and a feast for the eye with fountains, churches, palaces and ancient monuments at every turn. From the awesome splendour of the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel, the Pantheon, the Trevi fountain, the Spanish Steps, the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica oozes romance and excitement.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Rome.htm

Stockholm

Visitors can experience the magic of age-old traditions, historical sites and breathtaking settings in practically every part of this unique country. The most popular tourist destination is the Swedish capital, Stockholm. The grand old city by the water is known for its unique wonders such as the Vasa Ship; its elegance and grandeur, typified by the Royal Palace and surrounds, and its wonderfully preserved Old Town, “Gamla Stan", with 13th-century roots, subterranean vaults, church spires and narrow, cobbled laneways.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Stockholm.htm

Sydney

Many visitors would be surprised to find that Sydney, it’s largest city, is not the capital of Australia. Built on the shores of the stunning Port Jackson, Sydney is one of the world’s landmark cities, and is also Australia’s oldest city. Sydney, the nation’s premier metropolis, mixes a flare for groundbreaking architecture, a love of the arts and high-powered commerce. The must-do’s on every visitors list include the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Centrepoint Tower, The Rocks, Bondi Beach, Olympic Park Homebush better known as the site of the 2000 Olympic Games, and Darling Harbour.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Sydney.htm

Vienna

Located on a plain bordered by the Wienerwald and the Carpathian foothills, the Austrian capital, Vienna, is a cultural, industrial, commercial, and transportation centre. Vienna owes its spectacular architectural heritage to the Habsburg dynasty that controlled much of Europe for 600 years. Of special interest are the Hofburg, or Imperial Palace, with it’s 14th century Augustinian church, Imperial Apartments and Royal Chapel where the Vienna Boy’s Choir sing. Many of the world’s most important composers including Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Strauss and Mahler have lived and performed behind Vienna’s Baroque facades.

http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Vienna.htm

About The Author

Chloe Lim is a photographer and avid traveler. She travels extensively for work and family vacations. She is always on the lookout for bargain travel deals and discount luxury vacations.

This article is courtesy of http://www.hotelclub.net, you may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.

chloelim1@yahoo.com.au

Sweep Her Off Her Feet with a Last Minute Cruise!

by: Lori Wilkerson

Finding the perfect gift for the woman you love can be difficult, especially when the occasion warrants something really special. May we suggest surprising her with something that’s sure to delight her, something that she’ll never guess? Book a last minute cruise and whisk her away for a weekend or a week of romance on the high seas! It’s the ultimate vacation for two, and one she’ll remember for a lifetime.

In fact, a last minute cruise is the height of romance – a grand gesture that has everything that a great romance needs – sunshine filled days, moonlit nights, fine dining, dancing, pampering, glamour and exotic locales. Doesn’t it sound like the perfect gift for her?

There’s nothing as romantic as a cruise for those special moments

A cruise vacation is a great way to tell her you’d marry her all over again with three or more days of luxury, relaxation and pampering. And with last minute deals, you’ll have plenty left over to buy her something special at one of the great shops at your destination, whether it’s the Caribbean, Mexico or the South Pacific.

Thinking of proposing? Check into booking a last minute cruise, tell her to pack for a long weekend, and then sail into the sunset with her on a luxury liner. After a day of sunning on golden sandy beaches, snorkeling in pristine coastal waters and fabulous seafood, you can pop the question on the deck while a million stars reflect off cool waters.

Last minute booking means savings that you can use to set the scene perfectly. Chilled champagne, soft music, roses…whatever you want to make the evening special. Cruise ships are considered the height of luxury living for good reason – they cater to the wishes of every passenger, so let the captain know when boarding that this is going to be a special trip – he’ll be sure to see that everything is perfect for you!

Silver and golden anniversaries are also wonderful reasons to book a last minute cruise. If you’ve raised the children and have an empty nest, it’s even easier to get away for a sea voyage, and with the great discounts you can get by booking a last minute cruise, you can extend your trip to by several days for the same price. In fact, for the cost of what would normally be a three to four day cruise, you may be able to whisk your darling away for a week to ten days of ocean breezes, scrumptious food and wines and fabulous scenery!

Last minute cruise bargains surround you in luxury

There’s something so romantic about not worrying about your wallet when you’re romancing your fiancée or wife, isn’t there? With so many things to do on a cruise, the two of you will certainly want to try lots of things, and having saved so much on the cruise itself, you can splurge on some great extras. Some of the wonderful vacation activities you can enjoy together on these ultimate vacations aboard ship are:

* Fine dining in world-class restaurants
* Las Vegas style shows
* Gambling in the ship’s casinos
* Dancing to live bands
* Moonlight strolls around the deck
* Luxurious day spa treatments

The romance of just the right destination

The cruise is a vacation in itself, but the romance starts all over again when your ship docks at your destination. Whether you choose the Caribbean, Mexico or the South Pacific, you will discover that discounts abound on shore as well. These popular vacation spots offer fabulous deals from local artisans and crafters for you to take home with you.

Seafood and tasty local fare are inexpensive, exotic indulgences for both of you to share. Spend the afternoon wrapped up together in a hammock swinging in a tropical breeze under palm trees and you’ll realize that a last minute cruise may be the greatest getaway you can give your loved one – what’s more romantic than an unexpected, grand gesture wrapped in warm, salt breezes and golden sunsets and delivered in ultimate luxury?

Trying something you’ve never done before can be a powerful bonding experience, and any cruise vacation provides the ultimate choice of new activities to try. Snorkeling, parasailing, windsurfing, rock climbing and scuba are just a few activities that you could try as a couple that will become cherished memories.

How do I pull off a last minute cruise surprise?

Check out the destinations, rates and departures for several different cruises, and then get ready to move quickly. Booking last minute cruises can net you big vacation discounts, but the spaces available fill up quickly, so you should get in the mindset that you need to make a decision fairly quickly if you spot the perfect trip.

There are a few things you’ll want to take care of before you spring your romantic surprise on her so that she won’t have to spend the few weeks leading up to her departure worrying. Once you have a few dates picked out, put them on hold if possible and start making some phone calls:

* Contact her boss and explain that you would like to arrange a few of her vacation days if possible. Explain that it is a surprise and ask him or her to keep the secret.
* Talk to her best friend to find out if any appointments are necessary. Will she want a pedicure a few days before leaving? Set one up.
* Let her parents in on the secret as well, but swear them to secrecy, too.
* Arrange for any pet care needed, including boarding of dogs or cats if necessary.
* If you have children, make the arrangements for them to stay with their grandparents or friends and swear them to secrecy. This will be the toughest sell – kids have trouble with big secrets, but try!
* Check her date book – if she has made any appointments or plans that will need to be rearranged, call and explain that you are planning a surprise trip, and that she may be calling later to cancel at the last minute. This will soften the news when she does call later to cancel her appointments.
* Get ready for some romantic days and nights on your last minute cruise that you won’t soon forget!

About The Author

Lori Wilkerson is a full-time freelance writer who loves her job because it gives her the opportunity to learn more about the world every day. Right now, she knows a little bit about almost everything, and a lot about last minute cruise, cruise discounts, and cruise deals. Lori once led a Conga line to the tune, “Hot, Hot, Hot,” throughout an entire cruise ship sailing to Nassau. More cruise articles at www.discount-cruise.biz

(True story!)

alpinesprings@dccnet.com

How To Navigate the Bewildering Array of Internet Cruise Deals

by: John Williams

Why do people love cruises ? Why do so many cruise vacationers swear they wouldn’t go back to hotel vacations? Cruise travel represents a pinnacle of luxury. You travel around the world, or your chosen area, in cosseted pleasure.

Every whim gets catered for. Every time you’re hungry, food awaits. You go ashore to sightsee a new place, but return to your own bed every night. A floating hotel, travelling to a new location every day.

But how do you choose your cruise deal ? How do you know what’s good or bad ? Firstly, let’s look at the different types of cruises.

* Size

Ships range from city size (’000s of people) right down to small sailing vessels holding less than 10 people.

* Location

Your choice of ship might depend on location. If you’re cruising the Caribbean, you could try a sailing ship. If you want a world tour, you probably should go for something bigger ?

Some of the newer ships from the major cruise operators allow you to cruise the world in luxury. Their high-tech stabilizers mean your wine barely ripples, even in rough seas.

So for smaller cruises in benign weather e.g Caribbean or Med, you can choose large or small. For longer cruises, such as an Atlantic crossing, Arctic visit etc., you need a big ship.

* Price

Prices vary dramatically. Only a few years ago, cruises were an expensive luxury. Now prices fall within any vacation budget. In fact, all inclusive special cruise deals can be much cheaper than land-based vacations. For less than a 5* hotel, you can get 7-days all inclusive in a luxury location.

* Internet

How do you find these great deals ? As always, use the Internet. Sure, call your local travel agent, or respond to newspaper ads, but you’ll find the best deals online.

There’s only a limited number of cruise ships. So you’ll find exactly the same cabin standard, exactly the same food deal, for widely varying prices.

Try to narrow down your preferred location before starting. How long do you want to go for ? Then start searching the web. Try ‘cheap cruises deals’ for a search term, and see what comes up. Immediately, you’ll be faced with a bewildering array of choices.

Click on a few of these search results sites. Read some advice and info. Get an idea of prices to your preferred location.

When you’ve seen some deals you like. When you’ve seen at least three different deals to your preferred location. When you’re tempted to book right there & then. Stop !

Before you book, you must seperate the wheat from the chaff. That bewildering array’s about to become clear. Put the cruise company name into your search engine. Put the destination into the search engine. You’re looking for reviews. You’re looking for feedback from other people who’ve been with that cruise company. You’re looking for reviews about your destination.

Do this for each of your cruise vacation shortlist. Check there’s no hidden catches. Check price fully includes everything, and you won’t be stung for lots of onboard extras.

Follow these simple guidelines, and you’ll soon be embarking on the cruise of your dreams.

Discover valuable cruise information, advice and great special deals. Go to ==> http://www.cheapcruisesdeals.com/

About The Author

John Williams
© DigiLectual Inc. 2004
http://www.cheapcruisesdeals.com/
john@cheapcruisesdeals.com