Interjet plans expansion

In the months ahead, Interjet expects to create 20 new routes as it places 20 Sukhoi Superjets in service. The European aircraft carries only about 90 passengers, allowing Interjet to add routes to such smaller cities as Tampico, Veracruz, Campeche, Chihuahua and more from Mexico City. Sukhoi is multi-national, headquartered in Russia, affiliated with Italy’s Alenia Aermacchi and purchasing motors, landing gear, brakes and more from firms located in Queretaro, Mexicali and Chihuahua.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Orgy Time in Cancun

By Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Springtime is orgy time in Cancun. As might be expected, some people are delighted. Others are not.

During February and March, youths crowd into the hotels and onto the beaches for an annual bacchanalia, the Spring Break. This is the week between semesters at universities in the United States. Technically, it occurs in winter, but they still call it Spring Break. Not everyone who shows up is a student, either. Some come just for the fun.

The turquoise sea washing powdery beaches is only part of the appeal. In Cancun, as in the rest of Mexico, the minimum age for imbibing alcoholic beverages is 18. In the United States, it is 21.

That might not be a problem if a few illegal beers were sold in some cantina, but the festivities go on beyond the swinging doors of the saloons.

“We have naked girls cavorting on Kukulkán Boulevard,” protested the general director of a company selling time-share units. That sounded like a tourist attraction, but time-share firms, I was told, cater to families.

“Parents with small children don’t want to visit Cancun during February or March,” the executive fumed.

Cancun was built with foreign travelers in mind and is one of the most successful projects ever undertaken by the government. The idea was to bring in dollars, and that it does. North Americans, South Americans and Europeans keep crowding in, their numbers increasing every year. From what was raw jungle filled with serpents (in the Maya language Cancun means “snake nest”) this strip of sand has become the most popular vacation destination not only in Mexico but also in the entire Caribbean.

The hotel zone is on an island, a strip of talcum white sand washed by a turquoise sea and connected at either end to the mainland by bridges so short you may never realize it when you cross one. The island, surrounding a lagoon, is 22 kilometers long yet quite narrow, wide enough for only one avenue, Kukulkán Boulevard, which runs from one end to the other.

Those who work in the hotels live on the mainland in Cancun City, now a metropolis of some 300,000 souls. Some quite comfortable and inexpensive hotels can be found in the city, but they are, of course, a bus ride from the beach.

The first hotels, modest little places for the most part, line the stretch of beach closest to town. Along with low tariffs, they have another advantage: the surf is at its most gentle here. The water can get rough further out.

The Convention Center — where few conventions are held — marks the bend in the elbow and the liveliest part of the island, crowded with big luxury hotels, stores, shopping centers, outdoor cafes, bars, bistros, discos and night clubs.

Quieter are the even more magnificent resorts further out along the hotel zone. Getting back and forth, to be sure, can be something of a marathon in itself, but buses run the length of Kukulkán Boulevard and provide far better service than anything you can find in Mexico City.

Actually, once in Cancun, everybody seems to want to get out of town. A day can be spent over on Isla Mujeres, another at Xcaret or Xel-Há or one of the many other playgrounds down along the Maya Riviera.

But when the spring breakers arrive, things do get pretty wild. According to the Cancun correspondent for the Miami Herald, 12 kilos of used condoms were recovered from Cancun beaches in what sounds like a messy job.

And why are the authorities not discouraging this sort of behavior?

“Have you seen the size of our policemen?” asked the manager of one hotel. “Put a couple of them up against a bunch of New Yorkers, any one of whom could be a linebacker on a football team and our constables stand very little chance.”

The police, of course, carry firearms, but using them would not benefit Cancun tourism. Imagine the headlines: “Mexican Cops Gun Down College Kids.” Occasionally, I was told, an arrest is made, but a fine of $50, paid to the arresting officer on the spot, results in rapid release.

“Fifty dollars is what a policeman earns here in a week,” one local citizen explained.

Besides, points out a spokesperson for the local hotel association, the Spring Break invasion is not opposed by everyone. “Probably more money is spent here during February and March than during any other two months of the year.”

He did not mention the cost of repairing damage done to hotels by the rowdy revelers. Cancun brings in more tourist dollars than any other destination in Mexico. And tourism, with the exception of oil, brings in more dollars to Mexico than any single export does.

Thus the executive director of the Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau refuses to classify the springtime spree as a problem.

“I would say it is more of a challenge,” he says. “We need to educate our young visitors about our laws.”

To accomplish this, a six-page single-spaced translated summary of the statutes that supposedly must be obeyed is distributed to spring-breakers on airplanes flying them in for their fiesta. Whether they will be read is another matter, although some passengers inspire others to giggle at the translator’s English.

One optimist mentions how Fort Lauderdale in Florida managed to put a stop to the springtime debaucheries and enhance its image as an elegant vacation destination. Cancun should be able to do the same thing, he argued. “We have had meetings and all of us agree about this. The American consular agent in Cancun has assured us she has no intention of defending lawbreakers.”

Tennis, shotguns, fast cars set for Acapulco

This year, 52 special events will be held in hopes of attracting tourists to Acapulco, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo and Taxco — The Triangle of the Sun — Guerrero Tourism Development Secretary Javier Aluni confirmed recently. The fun starts off on Sunday with the opening of the Mexican Tennis Open, followed by the Shotgun World Cup, in which 221 entrants from 25 countries are expected to participate.  Before that, the fast cars should be arriving via Taxco to finish the Gulf-to-Pacific Rally, after which Acapulco will be hosting a classic car show. And this is just for the end of February and March. All three destinations have seen a decline in international tourism in recent years, but they remain favorites with the domestic market. Aluni, however, announced that he will be meeting with United Air Lines, Aeroméxico and Interjet to see if more direct flights from the United States can be arranged. Guerrero, and Acapulco in particular, suffered from a reputation for criminal violence, most recently the rape of six Spanish tourists during the robbery of a bungalow they were renting on a remote Acapulco beach.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Tourist spending up

Mexico has dropped from the 10th most visited country in the world to the 13th, according to the World Tourism Organization. Cruise ship passenger arrivals declined by 22 percent. In spite of that, travel industry earnings last year increased to $12.7 billion, much better than the $11.8 billion registered in 2011. “More important than the number of tourists we attract is the amount of money they bring in,” said Rodolfo López Negrete, general director of the Mexican Tourism Board. “The average international visitor to Mexico spends $760 and that is not including the cost of getting here.”

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Statistics confirm that tourists prefer the shore

The Mexican Caribbean (Cancun, Riviera Maya, etc), Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos attract most foreign visitors to Mexico, reports Sen. Silvia Hernández. Referring to official figures, she said that these destinations, coupled with Mexico City and Guadalajara, receive 90 percent of all foreigners who visit Mexico. The figures may be a little off, since many foreigners fly into Mexico City and Guadalajara only to change planes. But what the senator — and former tourism minister — wanted to emphasize is how few areas share in the tourism bonanza. Referring to the new tourism program recently proposed by President Enrique Peña Nieto, the senator urged that travel to other areas be promoted. The truth is, however, that even most domestic tourists (who account for about 80 percent of hotel occupancy) prefer the beaches. This includes Acapulco, although it sadly now rates as the most violent city in Mexico.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Tourism to get billions in investment

President Enrique Peña Nieto announced that 100 billion pesos (about $7-8 billion) will be invested in infrastructure programs aimed at benefiting the tourism industry. New port facilities, better highways and revived passenger railways are among the programs planned. Peña Nieto spoke at the National Tourism Forum in Cancun, noting that tourism creates jobs and regional development. Cancun itself is proof of this. Prior to the 1970s, Cancun was an empty sand bar on the edge of a remote and undeveloped federal territory. It now is the biggest resort destination in the entire Caribbean.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Russians outspending Americans along Caribbea

According to figures just in, 80,000 Russians last year vacationed in Quintana Roo (Cancun, Cozumel, Riviera Maya, etc.) the only state on the Caribbean sea. These visitors stayed an average of 10 days and spent twice as much as the average American tourist does.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

President’s tourism program criticized

The National Tourism Program presented this week by President Enrique Peña Nieto already is drawing criticism. While the attention given the travel industry seems to be appreciated, Jorge Hernandez, head of the private sector’s National Tourism Confederation, expressed regret that no mention was made of the decline in cruise ship traffic nor in the need to improve air service. Many observers hoped that the president would comment on the possibility of allowing official pre-clearance at Mexico airports for passengers bound for the United States as is done in Canada and several Caribbean countries. Others grumped that invitations to attend the event on the Riviera Nayarit went out only on Monday, too late for many to change their plans and attend.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Twain’s Waikiki still Waikiki

Ali’iolani Hale, constructed in 1874, is home to Hawaii’s Supreme Court and State Law Library. In front is a statue of King Kamehameha I. The building was originally used as the headquarters for the Hawaiian government.

The USS Missouri, left, and the USS Arizona Memorial.

Waikiki Beach.

Story & Photos By Stan Wawer

   Mark Twain, under the guise of Samuel Clemens, visited Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach in 1866. He came on an assignment for the Sacramento Union to explore the Sandwich Islands and write his impressions for an American audience.

   “On a certain bright morning the Islands hove in sight, lying low on the lonely sea, and everybody climbed to the upper deck to look,” he wrote of his first sighting of Oahu aboard the steamer Ajax. “After two thousand miles of watery solitude the vision was a welcome one.

   “As we approached, the imposing promontory of Diamond Head rose up out of the ocean, its rugged front softened by the hazy distance, and presently the details of the land began to make themselves manifest: first the line of beach; then the plumed cocoanut trees of the tropics; then cabins of the natives; then the white town of Honolulu.”

   Twain’s Honolulu has changed dramatically in 147 years. The Waikiki Beach of 2013 is a maze of hotels, mirrored office buildings and a high-end shopping district.

   “A good part of Honolulu turned out to welcome the steamer,” Twain further wrote. “It was Sunday morning, and about church time, and we steamed through the narrow channel to the music of six different church bells, which sent their mellow tones far and wide, over hills and valleys, which were peopled by naked, savage, thundering barbarians only 50 years ago!”

   Despite Twain’s culture-bound ethnic insensitivity, he showed a love of Hawaiians that is quite insightful for a white guy from 19th-century Missouri.

   Waikiki, perhaps the world’s most famous island beach, has more than 100 hotels along a two-mile shore and more going up every day. It may not be Twain’s Waikiki but it is still Waikiki. You say to yourself, “I’m not going there; it’s too touristy,” but once there, you are caught up in its mystique.

   You can while away the hours on the white-sand beach, paddle an outrigger to the open sea; join other surfers in search of the perfect wave, shop until you drop or explore the history of Honolulu, including a tour of Pearl Harbor.

   It’s going to take some exploring on foot to get acclimated to Waikiki. A block in any direction from the beach can be disorienting. In Southern California, I use the mountains as a directional guide.

   The beach would be that landmark in Waikiki if you could remove all the high rises. I got lost my first couple of days staying at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa until I started following surfboarders to the beach.

   Waikiki Beach Walk, a new, high-end tourist district that once attracted kamaaina (Hawaiian residents), is a $535 million project by Outrigger Enterprises Group. The largest development project ever to be undertaken in Waikiki, the facelift transformed a once tired 7.9-acre area. The Ala Moana Center’s expansion, with Nordstrom as its major tenant, opened to shoppers in March, 2008. The Ala Moana Center expansion gives shoppers a selection of nearly 300 merchants in 2.1 million square feet of total retail space. Existing shops include Hermes, Coach, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gap, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, St. John and more. Another renovation project is expected to be completed in advance of the 2013 holiday season.

   I was in Honolulu for the history, but I enjoyed the beach and the tourist benefits of Waikiki.

Iolani Palace

   Located in Honolulu’s business district, next to the state Capitol. It is the only true royal palace in the United States (not counting Hearst Castle) and the last residence of the kings and queens who ruled Hawaii. King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani completed the palace in 1882. The design of the palace was influenced by King Kalakaua’s world travels and was the first to be equipped with telephones and electric lights. It served as the monarch residence until the dethronement of Queen Lili’uokalani in 1893 by American businessmen. The Queen surrendered to the United States to prevent the bloodshed of her people and hence, Hawaii became a territory of the U.S. The building then served as the Capitol, first for the territory and then the state. The new State Capitol was built in 1969 and the palace was restored to its royal grandeur. Tours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

King Kamehameha Statue

   The most beloved and illustrious of Hawaii’s heroes, Kamehameha unified the Hawaiian Islands. His government maintained peace and traditional values even under intense Western influence. This statue is one of three cast in Paris from a model made by American artist T.R. Gould. The statue, in front of Ali’Iolani Hale, was dedicated in 1893 as part of King Kalakaua’s coronation ceremony. It is one of three statues of King Kamehameha I. One statue is in Kohala on the Big Island and one is in Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C.

Diamond Head

   Diamond Head is the most famous volcanic crater in the world. It sits on the southeast coast of Oahu at the end of Waikiki. The ancient Hawaiians originally named it Laeahi. The name meant “brow of the tuna” (charming). The name Diamond Head was given to the crater by British sailors in the 1800s. When they first saw the crater at a great distance, the calcite crystals in the lava rock appeared to glimmer in the sunlight. The sailors mistakenly thought there must be diamonds in the soil. Diamond Head is a crater that has been extinct for 150,000 years.  The crater is 3,520 feet in diameter with a 760-foot summit. When the United States annexed Hawaii in 1898, harbor defense became a main responsibility. One of the major defense forts, Fort Ruger, occupied the Diamond Head Crater. A battery of canons was located within the crater providing complete concealment and protection from invading enemies. An observation deck was constructed at the summit in 1910 to provide target sighting and a four level underground complex was built within the walls of the crater as a command post. A 580-foot tunnel was dug through the crater wall to provide easier access to the Fort.

   The observation deck and underground complex is now abandoned with the advent of radar but evidence of the command post is still present along Diamond Head Trail. The trail is unevenly paved almost the entire way and it is steep in spots.

   There are two sets of stairs, one with 99 steps and one with 76. There is also a 225-foot unlit tunnel. The hike is classified as easy to moderate in exertion (obviously classified by Superman) but is certainly worth the breathtaking, unparalleled view of the entire west side of the island, from Waikiki to Koki Head. The day I climbed the crater it was hot and dry. When I reached the first set of stairs, someone coming down said, “You’re halfway to the top.” Not true, but you are at the toughest part of the climb. I rate it as moderate to difficult.

   The Diamond Head Lighthouse is built on the steep coast cliff of the extinct Diamond Head Volcano. The original lighthouse was built in 1899 and the original fresnel lens is still in use today. You get a great view of the lighthouse from the Crater’s observation decks. You look straight down at it. The current structure was erected in 1917. Built of reinforced concrete, the 55-foot lighthouse stands 147 feet above sea level and projects its light 18 miles out into the Pacific Ocean. The lighthouse is completely automated with a back-up battery in case of a power outage. The light keeper quarters were renovated and now serve as the residence of the 14th Coast Guard district commander.

Hanauma Bay

   This “Curved” bay was declared a protected marine life conservation area and underwater park in 1967. This is the best beach area if you are new to scuba diving or snorkeling with a diversified population of fish and a rich coral reef. The bay floor is the crater of a volcano that opened up to the ocean when the exterior wall collapsed. There is a large sandy beach perfect for sunbathing and there are several hiking trails leading to breathtaking lookouts.

USS Arizona Memorial

   No trip is complete without a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial. The battleship has rested in its watery grave at Pearl Harbor since Dec. 7, 1941. The overturned hull of this battleship entombed some 1,100 sailors caught unaware by the Japanese bombs that sank this mighty ship and brought the United States into World War II.

   The memorial was built in 1961 as a tribute to all the men and women who lost their lives on that historic day. The memorial is 184 feet long and carefully crosses over the Arizona’s midsection. Openings along the both sides of the memorial afford a dramatic and solemn view of the ship resting on the floor of the harbor. Even teenagers and young children spoke quietly while at the memorial in honor of those who lost their lives on that day “that will live in infamy.”

   Of the 834 survivors, 34 are still living. Many of the survivors who have died since 1941 requested they be cremated and their remains placed inside the Arizona. “It is an incredibly moving ceremony,” said Doug Lentz, a National Park Service ranger. “Divers go down and place the remains in the Arizona. Above there is a 21 gun salute and taps are played.”

   The memorial is attended by the National Park Service. The visitor center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The last program begins at 3 p.m. No reservations are taken; all tours are free and on a first-come, first-served basis. The lines are incredible. Only 4,500 people are taken each day and the quota is generally filled by 11:45 a.m. The tour starts at the visitor center with a haunting 22-minute film that is beautifully narrated by actress Stocker Channing, followed by a shuttle out to the Arizona.    As you head out to the memorial, you get a glimpse of the beginning and ending of World War II in the Pacific. To the left is the USS Missouri whose deck was the site of the Japanese surrender and to the right is the USS Arizona, which sunk when Pearl Harbor was bombed, bringing the U.S. into WWII.

   I suggest you get in line for the memorial tour about 6:30 a.m. For $26.17 adults and $20.93 children, the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel has a tour that leaves the hotel at 6:10, gets you near the head of the line and has you back at by 10:45 a.m.

   You might want to make a day of it and visit the Missouri and the Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island.

   I finished up every day with a walk on the beach at Waikiki and a swim in the ocean. Tough life.

Where to Stay

   If you want to stay on the beach at Waikiki, there are a plethora of excellent hotels including the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Resort Quest Waikiki Beach Hotel, Royal Hawaiian Waikiki (The Pink Palace), Embassy Suites, Pacific Beach Hotel, Sheraton Waikiki, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Ohana Waikiki West, Hyatt Regency Waikiki, Ala Moana, Hawaii Prince, Halekulani, Moana Surfrider Western Resort and the Outrigger Reef Hotel. Check their Web sites.

How to get there

   There are only two ways — by air or by boat. A number of airlines have daily flights from LAX — American, Continental, Hawaiian, United, Delta and US Air.

   All information is accurate at the time of publication but prices, dates and other details are all subject to change. Confirm all information before making any travel arrangements.

President promises safety for tourists

Outlining his National Tourism Program, President Enrique Peña Nieto emphasized the importance of keeping pleasure travelers safe in Mexico. While violence has plagued the country in recent years, it usually has involved battles between criminal gangs and few tourists have suffered. Speaking at a meeting with several governors and cabinet members while on the Riviera Nayarit, Peña Nieto outlined a program that includes the creation of a Tourism Cabinet, market diversification, increased promotion and more. He stressed the importance of tourism as vital to Mexico’s  economy, accounting for about 9 percent of total gross domestic product. On average, salaries in the industry are 30 percent higher than other sectors. Last year, Mexico broke its 2011 record, receiving more than 200 million national and international tourists.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

More lift set for Loreto

Alaska Airlines on Feb. 24 will initiate daily service to Loreto on the eastern shore of Baja California. Loreto is one of five areas designated for resort development nearly 40 years ago by Fonatur, the agency that gave Cancun to the world. The original capital of all the Californias, Loreto long has been a favorite with the sports fishing crowd. Lack of lift, however, has hampered its development. Alaska, which flies in from Los Angeles, had reduced service as a result of limited demand. -- Jimm Budd Reporting From Mexico City Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Fresh investment in Aeroméxico

A group of private investors has purchased 20 percent of Aeroméxico, purchasing the shares from Banamex, a leading bank which, in turn, is owned by Citibank. Eduardo Tricio Haro, largest individual investor of the new group, will become CEO (chief executive officer) of the carrier. Trecio Haro heads Lala, the biggest dairy company in Mexico. Aeroméxico is by far the country’s largest airline, especially since its major competitor, Mexicana, was grounded by financial difficulties more than two years ago. Nonetheless, Aeroméxico has been losing market share to new, low-fare airlines such as Volaris and Interjet.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Carnival Time

It is carnival time in Mexico, the most famous celebrations taking place in Veracruz and Mazatlán, but festivities also are held in numerous towns and villages. This year, carnival coincided with Chinese New Year (4711, Year of the Snake). Weekends were wild with fun in many parts of the country. Carnival festivities continue through Tuesday night. Then comes Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Forty days later many people leave on holiday again to celebrate Holy Week and Easter Week.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

ATR to get jets, lower fares

With the arrival of 70-passenger ATR-72s, Aeromar intends to trim fares by as much as 25 percent, José Manuel Díaz, a vice president of the airline announced. Founded a quarter of a century ago and now with a fleet of 16 propjet ATR 42s serving 24 airports in Mexico, Aeromar until now has concentrated on the business travel augment, where, Díaz said, schedules are more important than price. But now, with its fleet expanding, Aeromar will be eying the leisure market as well.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Attacks may cripple European market

The rape of six Spaniards staying with six compatriots in a bungalow on a remote Acapulco beach may well ruin Mexico’s chances of attracting more European tourists. Police hope to find the gang that also robbed the visitors, but comments by Acapulco mayor that “this could have happened anywhere,” have not helped. Only last week government and private sector groups attended a tourism fair in Madrid, expressing hope that vacation travel from Europe to Mexico will increase. “We can forget about that now,” said one tour operator, who asked that his name not be used.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

More Quinta Real hotels planned

Now the super-luxury division of Camino Real Hotels, Quinta Real plans to add 15 more properties to its roster during the next few years. Currently Quinta Real operates hotels in Guadalajara, Zacatecas, Monterrey, Huatulco, Acapulco, Aguascalientes, Saltillo and Villahermosa, with a total of 695 rooms. The organization was acquired by Grupo Angeles in 2011. Since then, Camino Real hotels in Oaxaca and Puebla — both centuries-old viceregal structures that once were convents — are now Quinta Real hotels. According to its general director, Dominique Vanden Broeck, future installations will be located in Mexico City and other promising destinations.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

First long weekend of 2013

Acapulco hotels report that they were nearly booked solid Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Today the crowds will be making their way home. Technically, tomorrow is the anniversary of the signing of the 1917 Constitution, which has been amended more than 300 times since it replaced the 1857 Constitution, which replaced the first one, proclaiming Mexico to be a republic in 1824. For three years before that, it had been an empire after three centuries under Spanish rule. Three-day weekends are a recent development, a boon to both workers and the travel industry.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers