While cruise ship arrivals declined last year, Puerto Chiapas is doing better than ever. The port is close to Tapachula, which in turn is just a few miles from the Guatemala border. One volcano straddles the international line. Archaeological sites and coffee plantations are among the attractions in the area. This season, 19 ships are expected to arrive and with them some 25,000 passengers.
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Jimm Budd
Reporting From Mexico City
Member of the Society of American Travel Writers
Remains of a 1,600-year-old Byzantine bathhouse were exposed last week during an excavation project by the Israel Antiquities Authority near Moshav Tarum, outside of Jerusalem.
The 65-by-65-foot bathhouse includes the frigidarium (cold room), tepidarium (warm room) and caldarium (hot room), as well as a courtyard attached to its northeast section. The bathhouse is believed to have been used as an inn situated on an ancient road running along Nahal Harel through the southeastern Ayalon Valley, or as part of a wealthy country estate.
“Bathing in bathhouses during the Byzantine period is a continuation of the Roman tradition,” said Dr. Rina Avner, excavation director, Israel Antiquities Authority. “Similar bathhouses were found in the past at Latrun and Caesarea.”
“This remarkable new discovery will serve as a valuable addition to Israel’s vast collection of archeological treasures,” said Haim Gutin, Israel Commissioner for Tourism, North and South America, “and will provide some additional excitement to historic-minded travelers arriving in Israel this year.”
For more information on travel to Israel, visit www.goisrael.com.
The non-profit Yellowstone Association Institute will offer 73 field seminars — including 23 new programs — this summer. The organization, Yellowstone’s official partner for education, offers educational opportunities for park visitors and began accepting registrations Jan. 18.
Field seminars are educational park outings taught by experts focusing on topics such as Yellowstone’s animals, geology, history and more. Most courses last from one to four days and are limited to 13 participants. They are offered from early April to mid October.
“One of our goals of the field seminars is to offer a variety of topics that will appeal to many people,” said Jeff Brown, executive director of the Yellowstone Association. “Those with an interest in science, for example, tend to gravitate toward topics covering geology, wildlife behavior, plant life and the effects of fire in the park. Hiking-based programs are more appealing to people who want an active visit. Workshops covering photography, writing and other topics will be geared to people with a more artistic approach.”
New this year: Lamar Wildlife Getaways are offered every month and include three days of wildlife watching and hiking, catered meals, and lodging at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch, some of the best wildlife habitat in North America.
New wildlife courses include a June bear class that looks at grizzly/human interaction, an August raptor course that meets up with the Yellowstone Raptor Initiative, a September pika study that looks at habitat patterns of this elusive creature.
New hiking courses include a backpacking expedition around the base of Electric Peak and another through the heart of Yellowstone’s canyon country, as well as day-hikes off-trail on the northern range and through lake country.
Additional new topics include making your own Yellowstone video, wilderness route-finding, fly-fishing for families, and more.
Many Field Seminars are held at the Institute’s Lamar Buffalo Ranch Field Campus, where simple and comfortable log cabins are available for $30 per person per night. The Yellowstone Overlook Field Campus in Gardiner, Mont. features two three-bedroom, two-bathroom modern log cabins for up to 12 people and a two-bedroom, one-bathroom cabin for up to five people.
In addition to its Field Seminars, YAI offers Private Tours and Lodging & Learning programs. Private Tours are tailored for families and small groups and tours typically focus on wildlife watching, natural history and geology, thermal features and hiking. Lodging & Learning programs are offered in partnership with lodge operator Xanterra Parks & Resorts and combine daily field trips with comfortable lodging in park hotels at night.
Reservations for field seminars, private tours and cabins at the Yellowstone Overlook Field Campus and Lamar Buffalo Ranch can be made by calling (406) 848-2400. For Lodging & Learning program reservations, call (866) 439-7375. For more information about any Institute program visit www.YellowstoneAssociation.org or FaceBook.com/YellowstoneAssociation.
For information about becoming a member visit www.yellowstoneassociation.org/membership/.
Texas alone has issued more than 900,000 hunting licenses compared to only 40,000 for all of Mexico. What is a billion-dollar segment in the USA generates at most $30 million in Mexico. Those who would like to see more hunters hunting in Mexico will be meeting in Monterrey this week to see what can be done.
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Jimm Budd
Reporting From Mexico City
Member of the Society of American Travel Writers
Among those attending the Americas Lodging Investment Summit in Los Angeles this week was Enrique Carrillo, director of Fonatur, Mexico’s National Fund for Tourism Investment. Carrillo hoped to attract interest in Fonatur’s new master-planned project at Playa Espiritu near Mazatlan and in a new marina being built in Cozumel.
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Jimm Budd
Reporting From Mexico City
Member of the Society of American Travel Writers
That is “Real” as in “Royal,” by the way. Camino Real, which recently purchased the even more upscale Quinta Real chain, now plans to introduce Real Inns for less prosperous travelers. Goal is to open 23 of these during the next three years. Each will require an investment of about $9 million.
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Jimm Budd
Reporting From Mexico City
Member of the Society of American Travel Writers
American and Canadian residents of Mazatlan have addressed an open letter to cruise ship lines stating that their port city is quite safe for foreigners. Some lines have canceled visits due to reports of violence. Overall, nearly a million fewer cruise passengers visited Mexico last year, leading many lines to shift itineraries.
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Jimm Budd
Reporting From Mexico City
Member of the Society of American Travel Writers
Name of Experience/Event: Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary with “75 Tributes”
Location (City): San Francisco
Dates: Year-round
Description: May 27 marks 75 years for the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Bay Area is making big plans to honor the history, beauty and ingenuity of this famous span. The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, in cooperation with the National Park Service and the Presidio Trust, are developing a 75th anniversary program that will include a “75 Tributes” program beginning as early as this month (January) and yield permanent enhancements to the Golden Gate Bridge experience.
A two-day celebration is being planned May 26 and 27. Located along the San Francisco waterfront, the event will tell the story of the Golden Gate Bridge. The free celebration will feature exhibits, memorabilia, historic artifacts, music, entertainment, guided walks and a spectacular surprise finale. On the evening of Saturday, May 26, there will be a free screening of a popular film that prominently features the bridge. The bridge will not close to vehicles as it did for the 50th anniversary celebration in 1987.
Website: http://goldengatebridge75.org/
Activists dismissed by some as tree huggers are protesting a proposed $1.4 billion planned development for Isla Mujeres. The island, five miles by sea from Cancun, until now has been a sleepy, laid-back alternative. It may stay that way. Developers are said to be contemplating opening 9,600 hotels rooms, two marinas and a golf course during the next 12 years. But all this would be on the mainland part of a municipality headquartered on the island. Even so, opponents remain opposed.
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Jimm Budd
Reporting From Mexico City
Member of the Society of American Travel Writers
Alejandro Rojas has resigned as director of the Mexico City (technically Federal District) tourism office. Rojas apparently disagrees with the method by which his Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) will select its candidate to govern the district. Election takes place in July. The PRD has ruled Mexico City ever since the capital became self-governing a few years ago. Statistics show that more foreign tourists arrive in Mexico City than anywhere else in the country. Few stay very long.
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Jimm Budd
Reporting From Mesxico City
Member of the Society of American Travel Writers
Mais oui, ma cherie! Come with me to a secret vineyard in a chauffeur-driven French vintage car to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
This is actually possible thanks to a new itinerary arranged by a French company, Discover France (http://www.discoverfrance.com), to rescue suitors who at the 11th hour remember that Feb. 14 is around the corner.
The rate for Loire Valley Valentines Tour is 1,795 euros (about US$2,304.33 as of this posting) per person based on double occupancy for four nights accommodations in four-star superior class castle hotels, vintage car and driver, breakfasts and most dinners, chocolate tasting, wine tasting, cooking class, treasure hunt and local emergency technical support. Discover France also provides travel planning to add Paris hotels, car rentals, France hotels, trains, airport transfers, and more. See:
http://www.discoverfrance.com/regions/loirevalley_valentines.php.
Loren Siekman, Discover France director, says, “Valentine’s Day in France is romantic; this itinerary is unique and very personal and is being released just in time for those late planners. There is a romantic walk filled with riddles and surprises following a romantic track into an ancient French town, with stops to taste oysters in the market hall, sample Touraine wines, discover religious sites, secret gardens and cheeky shops.
Siekman added, “We call this tour a Valentine's Tour because of the romantic nature of the season, but couples can go most anytime throughout the year,” Siekman added.
Guests are on their own to arrive in Amboise to settle into the Hotel Le Choiseul for a gourmet dinner and views of the Loire. http://www.grandesetapes.fr/en/Chateau-hotel-choiseul/index.html. On day two guests are driven to Château de Chenonceau, crossing the Cher River before whisking to a surprise vineyard famous for sparkling wines in Montlouis or Vouvray. Vineyard hosts stroll with guests through the vineyards and troglodyte (cave). http://www.grandesetapes.fr/en/Chateau-hotel-artigny/index.html. This evening guests return to Hotel Le Choiseul for dinner and bonne nuit.
The third day combines an on-own self-guided walking tour of Amboise with suggested visits to the resident Villandry Castle and English-style park and a chocolate tasting at Chocolaterie Bigot. This afternoon guests transfer to Château d’Artigny in Montbazon for a spa treatment and gourmet dinner.
Day four yields visits to a romantic châteaux including the Sleeping Beauty’s castle (Rigny-Ussé) or the Château of Azay-le-Rideau well known for its water mirror and romantic park. Before lunch guests transfer to Tours, the main city of the Loire Valley where there is a private gourmet cooking workshop with a senior chef from Westminster Palace, House of Lords, at a local tea room. The workshop theme is a Chocolate Lovers three course menu that guests will later consume along with selected Touraine’s wines. The last night is at Château d’Artigny.
Discover France Adventures has been organizing bicycle tours and hiking tours in France since 1994 and has offices in both the USA and in France. Discover France Adventures award-winning tours are made up of their unique self guided tours and competitively priced guided tours including privileged access tours at the Tour de France. Discover France is one of only four licensed tour operators to the Tour de France.
Visit http://www.discoverfrance.com for all details or contact them by phone at (800) 960-2221 or by e-mail at contact@discoverfrance.com.
Out In The Vineyard and the Napa Valley Wine Train announced the return of the one-of-a-kind-experience, The (Bigger) Gay Train, a food and wine event. On Saturday, March 31, local LGBT Winemakers will be pouring their wines paired with the inspired cuisine of Executive Chef Kelly Macdonald.
As the train departs, guests will enjoy a multiple course meal paired with wines from LGBT Winemakers found in Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties. Sarah Bennett, Navarro Vineyards; Greg Bjornstad, Bjorstad Cellars; Mark Lyon, Sebastiani Vineyards; and Jeff Durham and Joey Wolosz, Gentleman Farmer Wines, will be on board to meet and greet throughout the evening.
Due to last year’s overwhelming response a more expansive event has been created.
What: The Big Gay Train Dinner
A new multiple course menu designed by Wine Train Chef, Kelly Macdonald, and paired with LGBT Winemakers from Napa and Sonoma Vallleys
Where: On board the Napa Valley Wine Train
When: Arrive and check in 5:30 p.m.
Board Train 6 p.m.
Train Departs 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $160 Gourmet Express Car
$175 VIP Vista Dome Car
More information is available at: http://winetrain.com/big-gay-train.
Reservations can be made by calling the Wine Train at: (800) 427-4124.
ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours in 1972 was the first North American company to offer bicycle tours in Europe (http://www.experienceplus.com/). This April it bring its cyclist-pleasing formula for fun to its hometown of Fort Collins, CO, to celebrate the company’s 40th anniversary.
On April 28 and 29 this 40-year-old company will engage guests in two days of cycling that begins on day one with a 60-mile ride up to Horsetooth Mountain Park and a downhill into Eden Valley followed by a local brewery tour before a birthday dinner celebration and overnight at the Armstrong, a 1923 Historic Landmark Hotel located in Old Town Fort Collins. On Sunday, over approximately 25 miles cyclists will enjoy views of the Bellevue Valley, a loop popular with local cyclists.
The $100 per person rate includes van support, one breakfast, one Colorado gourmet dinner, snacks, a brewery tour and tasting and a custom-designed commemorative cycling jersey. Road and hybrid bike rentals are available at a local bike shop at $40 for the first day and $15 for an additional day. Add $100 for double occupancy overnight lodging. Go to:
Interjet, one of the largest of the new low-fare airlines, plans to initiate daily flights to Miami next week. This will be its second U.S. destination. Internationally, Interjet also flies to Guatemala City and Havana. Founded six years ago, the airline now has a fleet of 33 Airbus A320s serving 40 routes and 28 destinations.
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Jimm Budd
Reporting From Mexico City
Member of the Society of American Travel Writers
The perception that it is dangerous led to a 52 percent decline in arrivals in Acapulco last year, according to airport figures. Other cities reporting a decline include Tijuana (24 percent), La Paz (14 percent), Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo (11 percent) and Mazatlán (6 percent). Poor economic conditions abroad also get part of the blame.
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Jimm Budd
Reporting From Mexico City
Member of the Society of American Travel Writers
The package includes:
Priced from 1,650€-2,100€ (approximately US$2,150-US$2,740), the package is valid through Dec. 20, 2012.
For more information on the Gourmet Experience package at the Hotel Hassler Roma, visit www.hotelhasslerroma.com. |
Speaking of trade shows, the International Tourism Fair in Mexico City is being reorganized. The first three editions were marred by disorganization and poor attendance. The next one is scheduled to start Nov. 15, two weeks before the current local and federal administrations are replaced by new ones. It will have a new name (Mexico City Tourism Fair) and be held in a new location (Banamex Center). It remains to be seen whether the fair itself will survive until 2013.
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Jimm Budd
Reporting From Mexico City
Member of the Society of American Travel Writers
The completion of a major renovation of The Tides Riviera Maya has elevated the resort to a new level of luxury, and with these significant improvements Viceroy Hotel Group has added the property to its luxury Viceroy Hotels and Resorts portfolio.
The property is now the Viceroy Riviera Maya (www.viceroyrivieramaya.com).
According to the Tourism Ministry, 80 percent of the available exhibit space for this year’s Tianguis trade show has been sold and at least 50 percent more buyers are expected compared to last year. The even gets underway on March 25 in Puerto Vallarta and the neighboring Riviera Nayarit. This is the first time the show has not been held in Acapulco and it is the new venue that is credited with attracting fresh interest.
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Jimm Budd
Reporting From Mexico City
Member of the Society of American Travel Writers
A Hilton and a Holiday Inn Express are in the works for Puerto Vallarta, according to the local hotel association.
AM Resorts plans to inaugurate a Dreams and a Now Amber while Posadas de México (Fiesta Americana, etc.), is looking at opening a low-priced One in the resort area. And all this before 2012 draws to a close.
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Jimm Budd
Reporting From Mexico City
Member of the Society of American Travel Writers
