(NC)-Ask any professional Travel Agent what the hottest sunshine destination is this year, and you’ll hear “The Mayan Riviera.” And this is true not just among Canadian travel agents, the Mayan Riviera is just as hot with folks in Britain, Europe, the U.S. and even as far away as Australia.

There is little wonder Canadians are in love; this captivating stretch of turquoise sea and soft white sand beaches, some 140 kilometers long, is just a four-hour flight from Toronto.

I’ve personally been visiting the Mayan Riviera at least once a year since the early ’90′s, and it just keeps getting better. And in this case, better is also bigger. Much bigger. In an effort to meet ever increasing demands, new hotels continue to bloom like the fiery hibiscus and sweet-scented oleander that fringe the white sand beaches. Remarkably, despite a quiet expansion averaging 2,400 rooms per year for the past ten years, the area has maintained its simplistic beauty and local charm.

Don’t expect high-rise hotels here-no building is taller than a palm tree. You can expect stunning choices, the perfect home away from home, tailored to every taste: fun-filled family vacations, peaceful retreats, luxurious spa treatments, romantic honeymoons, an ocean of scuba-diving, and golf courses on par with the very best. Even more remarkable, perhaps, is that despite unprecedented growth, the entire Mayan Riviera maintains over 90% capacity year-round; don’t even think about waiting to the last minute to book one of these gems.

Transat Holidays offers many first-class resorts including two brand new ones that are just opening: The Club Golden at the Bahia Principe Coba (5*), and Prestige Club at the Barceló Maya Colonial (4 1/2*) where Transat guests receive special extras like room service, daily turndowns, private receptions, concierge service, and the largest number of a la carte dinners. The All-inclusives offer such a dizzying selection of restaurants, bars, activities, pools, and entertainment, it will be hard to tear yourself away to explore the area. But you must explore.

The Mayan Riviera is so much more than sun-drenched beaches, cobalt seas and majestic resorts, it also offers a glimpse into the mysterious and rich Mayan civilization which dates back to at least 1500 BCE, and flourished between 300 and 900 CE. Discover ancient temples, as storied and noble as any Greek or Roman ruin; trek through lush rainforests and dense jungles; kayak through winding waterways; snorkel or dive the reef; plunge into the eerie green waters of the underground Cenotes, home to the Mayan rain Gods. And of course you’re just a short ferry ride from another favoured playground, the golden beaches of Cozumel.

A final word: By September of last year most resorts were already full for the winter. The Mayan Riviera books early. Don’t miss the chance to discover its magic.

- News Canada

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I’ve traveled to Hawaii twice, now. Both times, I’ve flown.

The first time I went to Hawaii, we lived in Nebraska. It wasn’t exactly the middle of nowhere, but you could see the middle from our place. Normally, flying anywhere meant driving to a major airport – either Omaha or usually Kansas City.

This time, we had a family emergency and had to get to Honolulu pronto. So we took a commuter plane from Kearney, Nebraska to Denver. From Denver, we flew to Los Angeles and changed planes. From L. A. we continued to Honolulu. Elapsed time by the clock, about 8 hours. Real time, more like 13.

The second time we went to Hawaii, we lived in Florida and the airport was only 40 miles away. We flew from Fort Myers to Houston, Texas. In Houston, we changed planes for a long, non-stop flight to Honolulu. Again, the clock time was about 6 hours. Real time, more like 12.

Both times, we arrived exhausted and jet-lagged…

If you have time, there’s a better way. Don’t just go to Hawaii to vacation, vacation TO Hawaii.

Take a cruise, board a luxury ship and cruise to Hawaii. The trip takes about 2 days from the west coast of the USA, and you arrive rested and refreshed (if you can stay out of the disco!).

Counting the commuting time, plane changing, luggage hauling, taxi catching and so on, the amount of real time spent is about the same.

If you choose to begin your Hawaii cruise at a mainland port, you’ll board the ship somewhere between Vancouver, Canada and Ensenada, Mexico. You’ll check into your cabin, then enjoy a buffet lunch while you wait for your luggage to arrive at your cabin. You’ll unpack once, then relax and enjoy until it’s time to disembark and head home.

I can tell you this – next time we go on a Hawaiian vacation, we’ll vacation to Hawaii and enjoy the cruise to Hawaii as well as the final destination.

This article is part of a chapter in “Your Hawaii Cruise Questions Answered.” For the rest of the story, and more great tips on creating lifetime memories in this tropical paradise, go to http://hawaiivacationbuzz.com

Republished by Blog Post Promoter

by John McCabe

Shore excursions are what separate one cruise for another. If you never got off the ship, it wouldn’t matter where you were.

That said, while a Hawaii vacation cruise offers something for everyone, not every shore excursion is suitable for every person. For example, my wife is not a strong swimmer so she immediately ruled out any of the scuba or snuba (a cross between scuba and snorkeling) activities.

One way to choose the excursions that are just right for you is to look at the amount of physical activity each requires. What follows is based on information provided by Norwegian Cruise Lines (http://www.ncl.com). I chose NCL because we were fortunate enough to take one of their cruises aboard the Pride of Hawaii this spring.

Norwegian divides their shore excursions into three activity levels.

Mild

“Tours with this symbol involve walking over relatively level terrain, possibly some cobblestone, gravel or a few steps. Comfortable shoes are recommended. If it’s a water activity, well, choice of shoes is up to you.”

One example would be the Atlantis submarine tour. You must be able to climb down (and back up) a short ladder to enter and leave the submarine. Once aboard, you’ll relax and look out the oversize port holes at the sandy bottom, coral reefs and abundant rainbow of tropical fish. On the Oahu submarine tour, we even saw the wreckage of a fighter plane laying on the bottom.

Moderate

“Tours with this symbol involve a considerable amount of physical activity such as substantial walking over uneven or cobblestone streets, climbing stairs or steep terrain. They are not recommended for guests with walking difficulties. Comfortable, sturdy shoes are recommended. (Unless, of course, you’re swimming.)”

A good example of this would be the ‘Tree Top Zipline Adventure’. Soar through the canopy of Kauai’s silent giants; a unique Norfolk pine forest towering upwards of 200 feet. Enjoy six different zipline runs entwined with seven aerial deck transfers, a 70-foot high suspension bridge and a 65-foot high dual rope crossing.

Here’s a tip. If this sounds like something you really want to do, book as early as possible. Zip line is one of the most popular shore excursions and sells out fast.

Strenuous

“Tours with this symbol involve physical exertion for extended periods of time. The terrain may be uneven or steep. This designation can also indicate the need for swimming in a light current, bicycle riding or horseback riding. They are recommended only for the physically fit and adventurous traveler.”

One extremely popular shore excursion that fits this bill is ‘Haleakala Bicycling At Sunrise’. This one also sells out extremely fast, so book early.

You’ll rouse yourself out of bed at 3:00 AM for the van ride to the volcano summit. After “the sunrise experience of a lifetime”, you’ll mount your bike and coast down the 38 miles of road back to the bottom.

Many of the mild activities are wheelchair accessible. If you need special accommodation, speak with your booking agent or the cruise director.

One thing we can recommend is to avoid over scheduling yourself. Allow time for rest and relaxation, too. If you book too many shore excursions in a row, they start blending together and wearing you down. On a weeklong cruise, pick one day near the middle of the trip to laze by the pool or participate on the on ship programs.

This article is part of a chapter in the Web Guides Network special report “Your Hawaii Cruise Questions Answered”, now being posted free at Hawaii Vacation Buzz. For the rest of the story, and more great tips on creating lifetime memories in this tropical paradise, go to http://hawaiivacationbuzz.com

Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Finding a vacation travel deal is important to most of us. We work hard all year for that two week getaway, and we want to get the most from it. We cherish our long weekends, too. Whether planned for weeks, or last minute inspiration, we want the best travel deal we can get. It doesn’t matter if your budget is Cristal or Coors, we all want a deal.

Keep these five tips in mind as you plan your vacation, and your odds of finding a great deal go way up.

BE FLEXIBLE and open-minded

Make up your mind what you want from your vacation. If your set on going to Hawaii, fine. If you just want to get away from the slush and slop of winter, maybe another warm weather destination will do just fine.

TRAVEL SMART and avoid busy times, peak seasons, holidays and business hour travel. In this case– do not follow the crowd!

Most desirable travel destinations go through three cycles.

High or peak season is the most crowded and the most expensive. Discounts and upgrades are harder to come by. On the other hand, some activities are only available during the peak season.

Shoulder seasons are the periods on either side of peak season. For example, high season in southwest Florida runs from approximately Thanksgiving to Easter. Hotels are full, rents are high and restaurant lines can be long. Come in October or May and you’ll be in the shoulder season, with good weather and fewer crowds.

Off season is any other time. Some attractions will close down. If you weren’t planning on visiting those attractions, it doesn’t matter, does it? Businesses are hungrier, so they’re more open to granting discounts and specials.

BE CREATIVE with locations and departures: Alternate airports and travel connections often have both lower prices and less traffic. But not always.

Maybe it will pay off, like it did on a recent trip we took, to fly into a major hub airport and drive a few hours to your end destination.

Consult with agencies and web sites– do your homework. Avoid being taken advantage of out of pure ignorance.

NEVER feel pressured into accepting any deal if you feel uncomfortable or uneasy. If things just don’t feel right, pass up the opportunity and wait for a better one.

One thing is certain. Another deal will come along. The hospitality industry is hooked on the last minute vacation deal. They would rather shave their prices and make a little money than have empty seats and rooms and make nothing. Remember that when it comes time to negotiate your vacation deals.

VERIFY the track record and legitimacy of the booking company, travel agent or other channel that you choose to use.

Check with the Better Business Bureau and any regulatory agencies (like a state Department of Commerce or licensing board).

Run a search on the company name in Google or your favorite search engine. Look for complaints. Keep the age of any complaint in mind, and don’t be too swayed by a single incident. Patterns are far more important.

Remember, vacations are for recreation and renewal. These five tips will put you on the road to a trip you’ll remember for a long, long time.

For more great time- and money-saving tips on booking your dream vacation, family trip or romantic getaway, go to http://www.LastSecondTraveler.com/

You Have To Love The Location, Say These Owners Of Orlando Florida Villas

by: David Leonhardt

It has been said that in real estate there are three things that count the most: location, location and location. I recently discovered how powerful this concept can be.

Not long ago, I wrote an article about owning a vacation rental and what to consider before making the plunge ( http://www.seo-writer.net/clients/villa-ownership.html ). Like every decision, there are pros and cons, and it also depends on an individual’s temperament, comfort with risk and many other factors.

I asked a few dozen villa owners who were listed at an Orlando Florida villas rental listing site at http://www.lastminutevillas.net why they had chosen villa ownership and what cautions or advice they would offer somebody considering a Florida vacation rental.

What struck me, however, was how most of the vacation rental owners I interviewed offered more comments on why they chose Florida as a location, than why they chose to be a villa owner.

In other words, the location more than the occupation inspired villa ownership, and that location is Orlando, Florida. Considering the battering Florida had recently taken by one hurricane after another, this struck me as kind of odd. So I picked up the phone and called Stewart Granville, owner of the listing site.

“It’s late Fall and I’m sitting out here in my shorts. Do I need another reason?” he asked. “How are you doing up there?”

“Uh…let me just go get a sweater,” was all I could respond.

To give you some idea of how important it for a vacation rental property owner to fall in love with the location, here are just two samples of what some villa owners told me:

“When we are driving back to the airport in Florida we never want to leave,” says Michelle Prince, owner of Secret Key Villa in Kissimmee, Florida ( http://www.lastminutevillas.net/villa/166/ ), adding “It was something we have always wanted to do since taking a Christmas break in Florida every year.”

“I believe that to feel that you wish to buy property in Florida you must think further than ‘Profit’,” says Dave Gordon, owner of Lindisfarne Villa in Orlando ( http://www.lastminutevillas.net/villa/89/ ). “I sincerely believe that most foreign villa owners have the ‘feel good’ factor themselves and buy because they want to return time and again…if they make a profit…what the heck!”

Of course, no business venture should be run on the off-chance of making a profit, but every business venture should be a labour of love, and few require as much love as the tender nurturing of vacation rental homes.

About The AuthorDavid Leonhardt is a freelance writer

http://www.seo-writer.net/freelance/writer.html

And published author:

http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book detail.asp?isbn=0-595-17826-X

Find vacation homes in the Orlando area:

http://www.lastminutevillas.net/Disney-vacation.html

Find vacation homes on Florida’s Gulf Coast: http://www.lastminutevillas.net/gulf-coast.html

Info@thehappyguy.com