James TravelPOINTS – Travel Tid-Bits  12/02/2009

When the snow starts to fly,  Americans like to head south for warm sun and ocean breezes, but this past year, Mexico has seen its name in the headlines across America for its border incidences and H1N1 Flu issues.  Here’s what you need to know to stay safe on your vacation into Mexico.          

***   Check the U.S.Department’s web site for security travel alerts at http://www.travel.state.gov/travel.

The U.S. State Department recommends you stay in areas where tourists usually reside.  They don’t recommend you go off the beaten path and explore remote areas that are not typically ventured into.  Carry a working cell phone and tell others where you are going if you are out on an adventure out of the ordinary. If you feel inclined register with the State Department e-mail notifications at:  https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui.

***  H1N1 Flu Advice for Travel into Mexico. 

Get a H1N1 vaccination, especially if you are prone to the Flu or you have a chronic health disorder or compromised immune system.  Mexico received a lot of attention over this and the risks are no different than staying home, you are susceptible of getting the Flu in the U.S or in Mexico, the advice is,  get a flu shot, wash your hands often, take sanitary wipes.   Like traveling anywhere in the world, common sense decisions are based on your experiences of where to stay and where to go.  

Contact us.  At James & Aggie TravelPOINTS we have A good sense of balance for our client’s safety and well being.  Our Travel Agents are kept abreast of current situations based on personal experiences and the constant communication between our client experiences and our relationships with the tour operators.  The information gathered provides the basis for making recommendation on the destination and allows our clients to make decisions based on these details.  Our tour providers and cruise ship up-date our agency on a regular basis regarding any situation that may pose a possible safety risk.  Tour operators and cruise lines tend to avoid destinations that pose a major risk associated with the well being of their passengers.  Over the past year, we have sent 1000’s of clients to Mexico and to our knowledge,  no one has reported back to us that they contracted the H1N1 flu.  

Andy JamesJames TravelPOINTS – American Express Representative Office1750 14th StreetBoulder, Co. 80302PH: 303-442-2340×224www.travelpoints.com 

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Christie Laplant with James TravelPOINTS a Riviera Maya vacation specialist recently visited the Azul Beach June 2009 for a site inspection.  From the moment I walked into the open lobby overlooking the ocean in the back ground I knew this hotel was going to be very special.

The Azual Beach located south of Cancun Mexico is a small boutique all inclusive luxury hotel & resort to many of my clients.  Awarded by travel + Leisure Family as the “Hip Gourmet Inclusive®” boutique hotel on a 9 mile stretch of white sand beach.  It only  has 98-rooms all steps from the beach, the hotel has an intimate atmosphere while also providing guests the superior service and amenities of larger luxury resorts. Guests of Azul Beach Hotel can expect personalized attention, gourmet-dining options featuring specialized menus; deluxe destination wedding packages and unforgettable memories with loved ones including amenities for families with small children. Not to mention, culinary activities including private picnics, a fresh fish market and chef prepared beach BBQ, assure there is something for everyone. 

What makes Azul so special? With just 98 rooms Azul’s intimate size means each room is less than a minute from the beach, pool, restaurants, bars or any of the resort’s amenities. For sun worshipers they have the beach butlers for the ultimate in service out on the sand. The beach butlers will have soft beach towels for you, refreshment deliveries, tanning products and water vaporizers, what more do you need?

Room suites Azul’s 98 room suites feature contemporary decor, air conditioning, king size or double beds, satellite TV, bath and shower, hair dryer, safety deposit box, daily supplied mini bar, coffee/tea maker, DVD player, direct dialing telephone, port for modem, and a balcony or veranda with a view of the gardens or Caribbean. Categories are superior and deluxe. All rooms are either directly on, or just a few steps away from, the secluded beach . The deluxe rooms are the rooms that are closer to the beach but to be honest even the superior rooms are just a few steps away.

A la carte restaurants The restaurants and bars at Azul feature a selection of eclectic menus and tasty drinks in out-of-the-ordinary settings. Fine international cuisine and all premium drinks will appeal to your sophisticated side, there is a la carte breakfast for adults, and buffet breakfast for adults and children. Kids have buffet food service where they can enjoy their own custom kids’ dishes. About menus; have you ever eaten at a restaurant with five different menus? Have you ever tried ordering from an all-lobster menu? Have you ever had a Tequila Martini? Have you ever had a drink at a bar with swinging beds? Yes it’s fun and all part of the all-inclusive experience at Azul. No reservations required. On a diet? They even have a low fat, low carb menu. Welcome to the gourmet inclusive experience.

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What a great vacation and great value.  Secrets Maroma, a 5 star Adults Only All-Inclusive Resort and Spa located south of Cancun along the beautiful Riviera Maya beaches of Mexico.  Andy James a travel agency owner for the past 30 years with James TravelPOINTS just spent 5 nights at this all-inclusive luxury resort.  With all the media hype about the swine flu prior to going, we decided to go a head and check out this property along with 2 others which were also exceptional, Secrets Silversands and Zoetry Paraiso De La Bonita.   After we arrived into Cancun and transferred to the Secrets Maroma Resort, (no swine flu in Cancun) we saw a beautiful resort hotel feeling the direct effects of the media over sensationalizing the flu crisis.  The resort running around 35 – 40 percent occupancy at the time we arrived was eager and ready to make every guests experience a memorable one.     This resort is for couples who want to get away from the day to day and enjoy the ambience of a relaxing vacation, without the kids in a luxury, stylish and fun atmosphere.  The resorts sits on a beautiful beach called Maroma Beach, considered one of the “Best Beaches” in the world with its powder white sand and warm ocean currents and vibrant coral reefs.  If you like to walk or swim in the ocean, this is an ideal location, the surf is minimal and swimming is safe or you walk for miles in either direction. No worry about ocean currents unless you try to swim over to Cozumel. As you enter the main lobby you are greeted by a large water sculpture and friendly hotel staff ready to assist.  All the rooms are suites with ocean views of the turquoise ocean off in the distance.  Rooms located on the ground level have their own swim out pool area.  Each room suite has a large private walk out patio with is own “splash pool”, a large king size bed or twin queens if you prefer, a large Jacuzzi tub, nice vanity and shower and of course a large flat screen TV with multi cable channels.  The mini-fridge is fully stocked with all sorts of beverages and if you have a preference, they will stock it for you, free of charge.  If you prefer to up-grade your stay, you can use the Preferred Club, an exclusive lounge area providing concierge service, daily continental breakfast service, afternoon hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, a great bar, desserts & fine liquors along with 4 computers for easy access to the internet.  The resort has 2 large swimming pools, lots of umbrellas for shade, easy access to the beach with plenty of palapas with towels, lounge chairs and a nice ocean breeze.   Around the pool is the pool restaurant which serves a la carte local fare, the pool bars and attentive wait staff ready to assist.   If you are wondering about the bars and lounges at this resort there are plenty, 8 bars and lounges serving unlimited premium beverages including pool and beach wait service.  The main lobby bar in the evening is delightful gathering spot before and after dinner.    The dining option are fabulous, they have 7 different restaurants to satisfy your appetite.   All the restaurants are a la carte menus.  The El Patio restaurant serves authentic Mexican fare which was good.   The Seaside grill located near the pools offer a selection of fresh fish and steaks (the tenderloin served here is marvelous and superb).  The Asian restaurant Himitsu located in the main lobby serves up Pan-Asian specialties and sushi.   Bordeauxthe French cuisine restaurant and Portofino’s the Northern Italian restaurant also located in the main lobby are nice elegant dining options.  All excellent dining venues with a good selection of house wines from Chile. The only buffet we saw was in the morning for breakfast and it was good.   Evening attire in the main lobby requires men to wear long pants and a nice polo or button down shirt.      If you are a golfer,  Secrets Maroma has a relationship with Playa Mujeres golf club with complimentary green fees.  A Golf Cart fee of $35.00 U.S. per person is required and if you need to rent clubs plan on paying an additional $35-$40.  The golf course is in great shape, tight scenic course with various water hazards and bunkers.  The back 9 has good views of the ocean, local beaches and the island of Isla Mujeres.  The drive from Secrets Maroma to the golf course is approximately 1 hour, and its north of Cancun.  You will need to rent a car to drive up their, or plan on paying for a transfer which could run around $100 or more roundtrip.  It’s definitely worth a golf trip if you like to play golf. Other day time activities include sitting in your lounge pool chair around one of the (2) swimming pools or swim-out pools watching the clouds and sipping your favorite beverage.  If you are a lap swimmer, the 2^nd pool is approximately 125 yards long and is great for lap swimming.  There is a fitness room, (2) tennis courts (good courts but play early in the morning) pool volleyball, water aerobics and other low key events.   On the beach safe swimming in the ocean, windsurfing, hobie cats, kayaks, snorkeling, diving clinics and beach walking.  The resort offers daily snorkeling and dive trips at an additional cost.   The Spa by Pevonia is over 13,000 sq feet of sublime atmosphere and very impressive.  Amenities include hydrotherapy and indigenous treatments.  Multiple massage styles indoors and out, Jacuzzi baths, sauna and steam rooms.  Worth a visit if you are into Spa treatments, from what I hear.  They also do nails. This resort is very attentive to their guest well being while on vacation, the staff is very friendly and customer oriented.   Another pleasant feature is they do not require guest to wear a “wrist band” like all the other all-inclusive resorts.   I would rate this hotel a 5 star property with originality over conformity.  This is a luxury resort with a refreshing array of character and ambience.  They provide the widest variety of dining and guest service amenities that is unique and distinctive.  This is the kind of hotel you dream about and pamper yourself with over and over and over.   

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