Spring break dangers: Practicing safety on vacation

By Midm Yi

With the unusually warm weather appearing briefly last week, Mother Nature seems to be teasing us with the thoughts of sunshine, flip flops, shorts and skirts. As the snow melts so does the patience of students who desire to reside on a tropical beach with the sun radiating warmth all around them.

For many college students, spring break is a week of full of partying in clubs, swimming on beaches and living in luxurious hotels all located in exotic hot spots. With television programs such as MTV, students see visuals of the palm trees, the clear blue water with young adolescents in swim shorts or bikinis all joining together to have some fun in the sun. To soak up the sun, college students choose the typical warm locations. According to About.com, the past three years students have chosen hot spots such as Cancun, Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas and Barbados to throw down a week of crazy parties.

What draws college students to travel down to these locations? The freedom from the watchful eyes of parents and the easy accessibility to alcohol and drugs instantly attract college students to spend spring break in these specific locations. The drinking age in places like Cancun and Cabo sit at 18 years of age. Students being able to gain easy accessibility to alcohol and drugs without a chaperone are prone to dangerous activities, which at times can potentially be life-threatening. However, as hazardous as this can look, college students overlook the perils lying in front of them while in search for fun and pleasure.

Griffin Ng, a third-year finance major, believes that the dangers of spring breakers generally depend on the person's ability to have self-control.

Ng said, "Students usually want to go there for fun so most of them avoid dangerous activities, but when a person doesn't have a strong self-control things can get a little bit dangerous."

Breet Singh believes that places like Cancun where the drinking age limit is younger compared to the U.S. can create dangerous situations as well.

Singh states, "Although I haven't personally been to these locations, I have been on spring break trips before and my friends have gotten alcohol easily and it led to bad situations."

As spring break seems to be months away, this gives college students enough time to think about the issue, the fact of the matter that lies behind the curtain of the fun. As beautiful Cancun or Cabo may seem, what lies beneath is a beautiful danger.

http://media.www.chicagoflame.com/media/storage/paper519/news/2009/01/26/SpringBreak/Spring.Break.Dangers-3596031.shtml

Top readers' tips for Mexican travel

By Christine Delsol

Along with kudos, corrections, criticisms and gratuitous rants, reader comments on Mexico Mix topics over the past year on SFGate.com have yielded a trove of useful tips, and we thought it was time to share. This selection is limited to comments that add new information or recommendations to information in the article. Remarks have been edited for space, grammar and clarity.

Places

"Though I haven't been to all of the cities mentioned, I have been to San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas, which is a wonderful place. Besides the lovely architecture and stunning mountain setting, SC is a great place to meet and learn more about indigenous Maya people. I would bet that San Cristóbal might either bump off one of the cities on this list or come in a close 11th." by jgray008 from "Mexico's 10 most beautiful colonial cities" 1/23/08

"I spent two fantastic weeks (in Troncones/Manzanillo Bay, north of Zihuatanejo) on my honeymoon, surfing and eating my heart out. Although an American was killed by a shark there recently, I would return in a heartbeat. Tropical. Cool vibes. Nice locals. The owner of Manzanillo Bay, Michael, has a culinary arts degree and brings "Choice Angus" beef down from the States to complement local seafood and Blue Agave." by mickdog from "Authentic alternatives to Mexico's tourist meccas" 7/9/08
Safety

"If traveling in Mexico City just exercise the same caution you would in any other big city. It's a great place, though be extra vigilant against express kidnapping from 11 p.m. to midnight especially. Only times I've had a bad experience in Mexico was when I was being young and stupid. I've got to say the problems diminished as I got older and smarter. Be respectful and you'll be respected." by homer from "Top 10 destinations for family fun in Mexico" 4/16/08

"The worst I encountered was flying into Loreto and encountering (I suspect) an attempt at being scammed by an immigration guard at the airport by not giving me my tourist card while going through customs. Fortunately a very helpful and bilingual RE/MAX guy helped me out and didn't even try to sell me a timeshare. Without said tourist card it's a $50 fine when leaving the country." by OhMyGoat from "Staying safe south of the border" 1/12/08
Getting around

"Low-cost carriers have been flying Mexican skies for the last two years, making Mexico a cheaper and easier place to flight. LCCs in Mexico are Aladia, Viva Aerobus, Volaris, Interjet, Alma and Avolar. The others mentioned in this article are either an old traditional airline or an airline spun off by a major airline. The six LCCs mentioned above cover most Mexican destinations, including major cities and popular tourist destinations, all with brand new planes and a great service. Remember, LCC's prices are based on leaving out some services, such as complimentary drinks or meals; if you can leave these things behind you will be gratefully surprised by Mexican LCCs. WhichBudget.com is not a student site; it is a budget airlines directory, featuring dozens of airlines from around the world." by wichbudget (David Perez, WhichBudget Latin America) from "How to fly Mexico's budget-friendly skies" 5/7/08 (Note: Since the article was published, Aerocalifornia, Avolar and Alma de Mexico have quit, and routes on some other airlines have changed. Check WhichBudget.com for current routes and schedules.)

"The Metro in Mexico City is good, and it is also the world's cheapest. Only 20 cents and you can go anywhere in the city." by cbg015 from "Authentic alternatives to Mexico's tourist meccas" 7/9/08
Ruins

From "A great Yucatán vacation in ruins" 6/11/08:

"Uxmal makes Tulum look like it's not trying. It gives Chichén a run for its money. Unfortunately, a 170-mile trip to Mérida from Cancun, then a 70-mile trip south is necessary to get there." by slipsticklibby

"Kabah (Yucatán) and Bonampak (Chiapas) are two more to add. I had to charter a Cessna to get to Bonampak. It was maybe the best complete experience I've had visiting southern Mexico ruins." by someoldguy

"I'm surprised the article didn't mention Cobá. It's relatively close to Cancun and in the jungle, much less crowded, very impressive." by snowflake
Mexico City

All from "Smile: You've got 10 great reasons to visit Mexico City" 8/20/08:

"Another museum I recommend in (Mexico City's) Centro Histórico is the Museo del Arte Popular. Amazing collection from all around the country, housed in an old Art Deco firehouse. MAP also has a gift/book shop in the new terminal at the airport, but the prices there are double the prices in the downtown museum." by johndberry

"I recommend the Casa Gonzalez hotel off of Paseo de la Reforma. Only $42 a night for two beds. Simple rooms, good service. It is within walking distance of the Insurgentes Metro station and Chapultepec Park." by cbg015

"Unfortunately, the list of reasons not to go is almost as long as Christine's list. The corrupt police have to be at the top. It's no place for a gringo to drive, but if you do, frustrate the cop by pretending you don't speak a word of Spanish and win the war of patience. He'll eventually let you go." by jdmba

"Recommended trip, try to spend a lot of time there. Try to stay at the Camino Real Hotel, upscale, designed by Mexican architect Legorreta; budget hotel, Mayaland; mid-priced, Hotel del Bosque. All close to transportation. We got ripped off on the subway, keep your money etc, on your person, not in your pocket. Don't get taxis on the street, go to a sitio taxi stand or get one waiting at a hotel. Buy a Guia Roji, the street map book of DF. The street names change neighborhood to neighborhood. Stay out of the Zona Rosa - it's a tourist rip-off." by betonomiteben

"I recommend the Saturday market (Bazar de Sábado) in San Angel. The quality of the goods is quite high, and the square is a wonderful place to spend a lazy morning." by missionpk1
Gay travel

"Puerto Vallarta is crowded for sure, but as far as gay travelers go, it is one of the best locations in the world. It is a very tolerant city in terms of gay people, which is not typical for Mexico. The beach culture during the day at Blue Chairs is amazing, very chatty and easy going. Most of the waiters are straight, but very used to serving gay travelers, and will tell you that they prefer gay patrons because we tip better and aren't like the typical retired American. The restaurants are great, and there is plenty of nightlife if you want it." by babylon1498 from "Authentic alternatives to Mexico's tourist meccas" 7/9/08

"Mexico is one of the best countries my partner and I have ever visited; I'd rather vacation there than almost anywhere I have been, including Europe. We have driven in a rental car all around the Yucatán on la Ruta Maya and to the volcanoes in Toluca and Popocatépetl, went backpacking in the rain forests of Chiapas, hung out in the zócalo with the Zapatistas in San Cristóbal de las Casas, made six visits to the great cosmopolitan Mexico City, and spent time on beautiful remote islands and in small fishing villages and hippie beaches on both coasts. Who needs a Mexican gay ghetto with the same things you have back home?" by uggie from "Mexico's top destinations for gay vacations" 11/26/08
Crafts

"Let's not forget the wood art in Concordia, Sinaloa, 30 minutes from Mazatlán. Amazing what they can do with wood, not using much in the way of tools." by sameasusual

"My favorite is the whimsical hand carved animal figures known as alebrijes. They're decorated in fluorescent colors with tiny dot and line patterns. The Huichol Indians, in their colorful native garb, sell alebrijes in small towns north of Puerto Vallarta." by jdmba

"This article missed a prime spot between the pyramids at Teotihuacán and El Tajin, also near Metepec. The town of San Pablito, an Otomí (or Ñañhu) community where they make the papel amate paper once used in books/codices made by Maya, Zapotecs, Aztecs, Toltecs, etc. that were burned by the Spanish. Still handmade and still part of ceremonies there for good crops and for healing. They've branched out to painting and detailed pictures of suns and plant spirits cut from one sheet and pounded into another. They do amazing embroidery in blouses (beaded or cross-stitch are the most striking) as well as large, animal and plant embroideries called tenangos. " by kering.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/23/TR3E154UQ8.DTL

Playa del Carmen has plenty to explore

By Roseanna Schick

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico - Situated in the tropical tourist region known as Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen is 65 kilometres south of Cancun and 20 kilometres from the island of Cozumel. This humble hot spot provides all the sun, sand and surf of its trendy cousins, but still sports fewer crowds.

At least for the time being.

Named for Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the patron saint of Cancun, Playa del Carmen was a rest stop and readying point for the earliest travellers making their way from the great Mayan cities to the island of Cozumel. From the same shores that now house modern-day resorts and restaurants, they launched dugout canoes to journey across the open water.

During ensuing centuries of European exploration, Spaniards travelled up and down the Yucatan Peninsula, and pirate ships patrolled the waters. Trade was established in the area, where local commodities like salt and honey were bartered for goods imported from other regions.

Today, bartering still takes place, with the commodity being the Mexican peso or U.S. dollar. You can still venture away from the shoreline, but the vessel will most likely be a kayak, fishing boat or perhaps a parasail. But first, you have to get to the waterfront.

Riviera Maya's coastline extends nearly 145 kilometres along the eastern side of the Yucatan Peninsula, with Playa del Carmen at the heart of it all. Bordered by the Caribbean Sea, the beach looks exactly like those magazine pictures of turquoise water and sparkling white sands. If ever I'd imagined paradise, this was it.

One of my favourite pastimes when travelling, besides wandering alone into wilderness areas, is roaming along a beach. It is here I'll find my most treasured souvenirs - seashells eroded from endlessly spinning in salt water, and rocks smoothed from tumbling about the tides.

Riviera Maya is home to the largest barrier reef system in the Northern Hemisphere. Second only to Australia's famous Great Barrier Reef, the Great Maya Reef was introduced to the world by Jacques Cousteau in 1954. Stretching nearly 1,000 kilometres from the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula southward to the Bay of Honduras, the Great Maya Reef is a chain of crevices, ravines, canyons, and coral gardens.

It has become one of the most popular and spectacular scuba and snorkelling destinations in the world, offering 100 different dive sites and more than 500 species of fish, four species of sea turtles, and some of the biggest sponge formations in existence.

Diving takes place inland, too, where numerous subterranean streams throughout the jungle are connected to submerged caverns, resulting in the world's largest underground river system. Cenotes, or freshwater pools, are formed by water filtering through the limestone, providing a myriad of tunnels, channels and caves to be explored.

Riviera Maya's natural jungle setting is the perfect place for eco-parks, and there are several to choose from. Our group toured Xcaret, a destination teeming with opportunities to learn about regional ecology, culture, traditions and history.

Xcaret means "little inlet" and is one of the most visited places in the Riviera Maya. It hosts an array of indigenous wildlife, including monkeys, bats, zebus and tapirs - whose main predator also lives at Xcaret. Jaguars are kept on an island shaded by lush vegetation. To the Maya, the jaguar was a god called Balam, a symbol of power and sovereign of the underworld. To the admiring tourist, this king of the tropics is majestic. To the tapir, the only good jaguar is one kept on an island.

Marine turtles have lived in the oceans for more than 100 million years, and constitute an important symbolic figure for indigenous communities around the world. During nesting season, Xcaret establishes turtle camps to protect the endangered species from possible predators. When baby turtles hatch after 60 days, the ones that arrive at the park as part of the conservation program are marked for identification when they return to nest 25 years later.

To see other marine life, the Xcaret Sea Trek allows you to walk and breathe underwater using a special helmet. Other unique experiences include snuba diving, which combines the technology of scuba diving with the ease of snorkelling, swimming with dolphins, and swimming with sharks.

With so much to do and see at Xcaret, including performances, ceremonies, cultural sites, sculptures, chapel, Mayan village, wine cellar and more, you could spend an entire week exploring everything it has to offer.

There's an increasingly popular attraction in Riviera Maya that doesn't involve swimsuits, sunscreen or waterfall massages. The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival celebrated its sixth birthday in November, and is becoming more acclaimed with each passing year. The festival features the best of Mexico's jazz culture and a choice selection of international artists.

While there are other jazz music festivals in Mexico, this is the only one on the sandy beach alongside the Caribbean Sea. An estimated 30,000 visitors attended over three evenings, using beach towels, blankets and lawn chairs to stake claim to their piece of sandy real estate.

If you are visiting Playa del Carmen, you must stroll down La Quinta Avenida, or Fifth Avenue, a festive pedestrian walkway running parallel to the ocean. It offers a wide selection of shopping, dining and entertainment, along with Internet cafes, money exchangers and other specialty places. It's also lined with boutiques, stores and kiosks, giving tourists plenty of potential to practise the age-old tradition known as haggling.

There are three rules to remember when shopping in Mexico. First, everything is negotiable. Second, never buy the first one of anything you see, as chances are there will be five more just like it down the street. Third, don't forget rule number one.

You can get great deals in Playa del Carmen, even on a tourist strip like the Quinta. The selection of silver jewelry is exceptional, and somewhat overwhelming. With so many stunning and inexpensive pieces to choose from, the toughest part is making a decision. Take the time to look around first to find the best quality and locate that one special item that truly catches your eye.

Of course all that walking around and haggling will make you hungry, so stop in at one of the many restaurants along the Quinta. With ex-patriots from dozens of countries around the globe calling Playa del Carmen home, the town has a vast selection of food choices, including Italian, Argentinean, Chinese, French and other cuisines.

My preference is authentic Mexican cuisine like ceviche, empanadas, and fresh salsa and guacamole that tastes delicious atop anything. To wash it all down, nopal juice made from the medicinal prickly pear cactus is not only refreshing, but also contains valuable nutrients that support immune, glandular, nervous, circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems.

After a long day's roaming it's always a relief to rest your weary head. Being one of Mexico's fastest-growing destinations, Playa del Carmen has had a boom in the quantity and quality of lodgings. Small hotels possess a captivating Caribbean charm, with some offering spectacular ocean views, while others resemble cosy nests surrounded by tropical jungle. And of course you have the high-end, all-inclusive resorts, which line the waterfront up and down the Yucatan Peninsula. Looking like fenced-in fortresses, some of these places are the size of small villages and have all the amenities.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/liveit/article/550014

Romantic getaway in Mexico

By Scott Fisher

If you're going on your honeymoon, you want to be treated like Royal-ty.

And that's exactly how every guest feels at the Real Royal in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Newcomers at this adults-only resort are greeted by friendly staff and handed a mimosa within seconds of arriving at the resort.

After a quick check-in, you're free to explore the grounds of the Royal, which are in immaculate condition, thanks to an unparalleled workforce of 665 employees.

Royal general manager Beat Muller takes great pride in the work his employees provide in order to make your vacation one to remember.

"We have more employees than other resorts because we want to make sure our guests are comfortable," Muller says.

"We love God, our families and our guests. That's the main way we look at it.

"We want every person to feel welcome."

Mission accomplished.

Even at the Spice restaurant, which is a magnificent buffet of every food imaginable, the young staff hustles to meet the needs of every diner.

There are numerous restaurants to choose from, featuring the best menus from around the globe.

It's impossible not to find one great meal after another. My wife is a vegetarian. I eat meat almost exclusively. We both found fabulous food at each of the resort's six restaurants.

It's probably impossible, but if you can't find what you're looking for, the chefs will prepare it.

Guests are also encouraged to try the restaurants across the street at The Gran Porto Real, the resort's sister hotel.

The Royal resort in nearby Cancun is also available to vacationers.

The Playa del Carmen resort was expanded from 312 to 459 rooms last year to keep up with increasing demand.

"This is one of the fastest-growing cities in Mexico," Muller says.

All Master and Presidential Suites include free international telephone calls and a free test drive of a Mini Cooper. Oceanview rooms come with a Bose music system and an iPod.

And the resort is located right off of cosmopolitan 5th Ave., a popular shopping destination.

While some resorts have been known to use cheaper brands of alcohol, that isn't the case at the Royal, which proudly displays all of its high-quality liquor at its many bars. Each room also has its own dispenser featuring four different kinds of alcohol, as well as a stocked mini-bar.

The convenient swim-up bar and massive Lobby Bar are two of the most popular hangouts.

Guys, it's probably not advisable to spend your honeymoon watching football. But let's face it. If there's a big game on, we gotta watch it.

Maybe you 'accidentally' stumble into the enormous Lobby Bar -- where there just happens to be three huge screens. You won't be alone here.

Later in the evening, the Lobby Bar plays host to a different entertainment act every night.

If you want to push the envelope even further, there are numerous pro golf courses nearby -- the Playacar Golf Club, Puerto Aventuras, Pok Ta Pok, Cozumel Country Club and the Melia Cancun Golf Club, to name a few.

You may be able to get away with a round or two if you send the wife to the European-inspired SpAzul.

The spa offers a full range of treatments, including facials, massage therapies and body waxing. A separate steam room, sauna and whirlpool are also on site.

Twenty-four hour room service is available.

And if you're taking advantage of the Jacuzzi, which is found in every room, you won't have to worry about scrambling to the door.

The Royal's 'magic box' allows resort staffers to deposit your order in a secure closet that you can access at your convenience.

There's plenty of activities during the day -- both on and off the grounds. There are numerous adventure tours to choose -- from touring the ancient ruins at Tulum to swimming with the dolphins in Cancun.

http://www.canoe.ca/Travel/Activities/SunSand/2009/01/15/8076626-sun.html

Romantic getaway in Mexico

By Scott Fisher

If you're going on your honeymoon, you want to be treated like Royal-ty.

And that's exactly how every guest feels at the Real Royal in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Newcomers at this adults-only resort are greeted by friendly staff and handed a mimosa within seconds of arriving at the resort.

After a quick check-in, you're free to explore the grounds of the Royal, which are in immaculate condition, thanks to an unparalleled workforce of 665 employees.

Royal general manager Beat Muller takes great pride in the work his employees provide in order to make your vacation one to remember.

"We have more employees than other resorts because we want to make sure our guests are comfortable," Muller says.

"We love God, our families and our guests. That's the main way we look at it.

"We want every person to feel welcome."

Mission accomplished.

Even at the Spice restaurant, which is a magnificent buffet of every food imaginable, the young staff hustles to meet the needs of every diner.

There are numerous restaurants to choose from, featuring the best menus from around the globe.

It's impossible not to find one great meal after another. My wife is a vegetarian. I eat meat almost exclusively. We both found fabulous food at each of the resort's six restaurants.

It's probably impossible, but if you can't find what you're looking for, the chefs will prepare it.

Guests are also encouraged to try the restaurants across the street at The Gran Porto Real, the resort's sister hotel.

The Royal resort in nearby Cancun is also available to vacationers.

The Playa del Carmen resort was expanded from 312 to 459 rooms last year to keep up with increasing demand.

"This is one of the fastest-growing cities in Mexico," Muller says.

All Master and Presidential Suites include free international telephone calls and a free test drive of a Mini Cooper. Oceanview rooms come with a Bose music system and an iPod.

And the resort is located right off of cosmopolitan 5th Ave., a popular shopping destination.

While some resorts have been known to use cheaper brands of alcohol, that isn't the case at the Royal, which proudly displays all of its high-quality liquor at its many bars. Each room also has its own dispenser featuring four different kinds of alcohol, as well as a stocked mini-bar.

The convenient swim-up bar and massive Lobby Bar are two of the most popular hangouts.

Guys, it's probably not advisable to spend your honeymoon watching football. But let's face it. If there's a big game on, we gotta watch it.

Maybe you 'accidentally' stumble into the enormous Lobby Bar -- where there just happens to be three huge screens. You won't be alone here.

Later in the evening, the Lobby Bar plays host to a different entertainment act every night.

If you want to push the envelope even further, there are numerous pro golf courses nearby -- the Playacar Golf Club, Puerto Aventuras, Pok Ta Pok, Cozumel Country Club and the Melia Cancun Golf Club, to name a few.

You may be able to get away with a round or two if you send the wife to the European-inspired SpAzul.

The spa offers a full range of treatments, including facials, massage therapies and body waxing. A separate steam room, sauna and whirlpool are also on site.

Twenty-four hour room service is available.

And if you're taking advantage of the Jacuzzi, which is found in every room, you won't have to worry about scrambling to the door.

The Royal's 'magic box' allows resort staffers to deposit your order in a secure closet that you can access at your convenience.

There's plenty of activities during the day -- both on and off the grounds. There are numerous adventure tours to choose -- from touring the ancient ruins at Tulum to swimming with the dolphins in Cancun.

http://www.canoe.ca/Travel/Activities/SunSand/2009/01/15/8076626-sun.html