Thanksgiving Destinations For Americans

MORE Americans are traveling for Thanksgiving than ever, according to Allianz Global Assistance's Top 10 Thanksgiving Destination Index, which saw an eight percent increase in travelers from 2017. For the fourth year running, New York City and Cancun are Americans' preferred domestic and international Thanksgiving destinations, respectively.

While travel to Cancun is down from last year (8.7 percent), it still tops the international destinations list, and Mexico as a country claims four spots total: San Jose Del Cabo at number five, Puerto Vallarta at nine and Mexico City at ten. The other Top 10 destinations in order of popularity are: London, Paris, San Juan, Montego Bay, Nassau and Punta Cana.

The day before Thanksgiving (Wednesday, November 21) is the busiest departure day according to Allianz's index, and Sunday, November 25 is the busiest return date.


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Up in the air . . .

THE Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today announced an ambitious new airport development project in #Yemen that, when complete, will accommodate 2 million travellers a year. The airport to be rebuilt is in the historic city of Marib, east of the capital Sanaa. Once complete, it will provide a critical infrastructure hub for the country and region.

THE Quintana Roo Tourism Board announced today that the region's global air connectivity continues to grow with new, direct international flights to the #Cancun International Airport as well as increased capacity on several existing routes. This expansion comes as international tourists continue to flock to Mexico's most popular international destinations located across the state, which include Cancun.

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Mexico a popular vacation destination for Canadians

SWOOP Airlines has announced a service to Mexico with the addition of four new routes serving the cities of Cancún, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta. John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport will see twice weekly service to Puerto Vallarta International Airport and three times weekly service to Cancún International Airport beginning January 8, 2019 and January 14, 2019, respectively. 

Similarly, Abbotsford International Airport will enjoy twice weekly service to Puerto Vallarta and twice weekly service to Mazatlán International Airport beginning January 12, 2019 and January 20, 2019, respectively.

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Magical places to retire to

A new report from the editors at Internationalliving.com points to five jaw-droppingly beautiful places to enjoy a magical retirement, for less. In the right places around the world, retirees can combine a fulfilling, affordable lifestyle in stunning surrounds. International Living’s report delves into five beautiful retirement havens—in Portugal, Mexico, Ireland, Peru, and Cambodia—that offer spectacular surroundings, high quality of life, and affordable costs.

A favorite summer retreat of the former royal family, Sintra is full of national treasures. Just a 40-minute train journey from Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, its palaces, mansions, and architectural follies deliver an enchanted setting. 

For those who dream of living a cosmopolitan lifestyle in a gorgeous setting, Cusco—Peru’s most historic city—is a front runner. This 500-year-old colonial gem has ample domed churches and ancient, pedestrian-only cobblestone streets. 

The west coast of Ireland is enormously inviting, with sandy coves tucked away between cliffs and rocky headlands. The difficult thing will be deciding where to settle—from the heathery mountains of Donegal down to the craggy peninsulas of Kerry, the entire western seaboard delivers a bonanza of scenic splendors. Spanned by a cycling or driving route known as the Wild Atlantic Way.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico was officially founded in 1541, getting rich when silver was discovered in the nearby states of Zacatecas and San Luis Potosi. Supplying the mines and catering to the workers and travelers passing through brought wealth to the city. Plus many of the newly rich silver barons chose to live there. Today, its historic center is pretty much the same as it was 250 years ago, and in 2008 San Miguel was declared a UNESCO World Heritage City.

Siem Reap, Cambodia, the exotic sights and sounds of the Kingdom of Wonder shoots Cambodia to the top of many peoples’ wish list. The nation’s rich history, traditions and culture; its ancient temples, royal palaces and saffron-robed monks attract visitors and expats both. Known as Cambodia’s “temple town,” Siem Reap, in north-western Cambodia, is surrounded by the ruins of the ancient temple city.

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A destination hopping choice

A growing trend among discerning travelers today revolves around packing multiple destinations and experiences into one vacation by choosing locations teaming with diverse, nearby options. Riviera Nayarit, Mexico’s Pacific treasure and newest destination, less than an hour from Puerto Vallarta makes it the ideal vacation for destination-hopping vacationers seeking to sample multiple options and resort towns. 

With beach towns, islands and exclusive resorts strung like pearls along the alluring and tranquil Pacific Coast, it is easy to spend a few days over-nighting or day-tripping within several locations in the eclectically alluring Riviera Nayarit. From towns like Sayulita on the southern coast with a boho-chic surfer town atmosphere, to Punta de Mita, a golfer’s paradise surrounded by lush green hills and six miles of beaches, to family friendly Nuevo Vallarta & Flamingos. A dynamic schedule of year-round festivals ensures additional ways to enjoy the destination in any season.

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Picture Credit: Lucy Nieto <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12519225@N03/27423301548">Guayabitos - Nayarit México 180406</a> via <a href="http://photopin

Puerto Vallerta's center now a protected area

PUERTO Vallarta's Historic Centeris now a protected Cultural Heritage of the Mexican State of Jalisco. The declaration was made by the state's Department of Culture on July 21 via the official journal of Jalisco and makes the center of the city a protected area, with all the rights and privileges of a heritage protected by state and federal laws.

The recognition includes the area from the beginning of the Malecon - where the oldest hotel in Puerto Vallarta, the hotel Rosita, stands - and continues to the cobblestoned Romantic Zone and up to the historic Conchas Chinas neighborhoods. Each area is of special historical significance to Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco and Mexico, as well as the essence of the port city, which is in the midst of celebrating its centennial.


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Picture Credit: By Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada - Facade of Hotel Rosita with Pelicans - Puerto Vallarta - Jalisco - Mexico, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64119845

San Antonio celebrates like no other

WHEN it comes to Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, there's no place in the United States that observes this traditionally Mexican holiday quite like San Antonio. This year, as the city celebrates its Tricentennial anniversary, there will be more than 20 unique events from October 20 through November 3 -- more than any other city in Texas, and likely any other city in the country. 

Mexican roots run deep in San Antonio (which is a previous colonial capital of New Spain and state capital of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas). The city is a three-hour drive from the U.S.-Mexico border, and more than 60 percent of the city's population is of Mexican descent. This cultural heritage is evident through San Antonio'sunwavering celebratory spirit -- the city hosts a seemingly endless roster of festivals and events each year, including the 10-day-long Fiesta San Antonio in April -- and also is distinctly felt when it comes to Día de Los Muertos.

This year's events run the gamut, from small gatherings with traditional altars and face painting to multiple-day festivals featuring live music, stilt walkers, Mexican cuisine and festive parades. In addition to official celebrations, restaurants and cafes across San Antonio will showcase altars, customary décor and fresh-baked pan de muerto, a popular type of sweet bread that is also used as an offering to loved ones who have passed. This collective spirit offers an unforgettable way to experience the city, as well as to gain insight into this unique, historic holiday which views death with lightness and humor rather than fear. Most events are family friendly, allowing children to learn about the rich traditions of the holiday, helping it continue for generations to come.


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Best golf destinations for November

WHEN it comes to choosing the best destinations for golf this November, a few places really stand out. Here is a brief look at 3 fabulous November 2018 destinations for golf.

Playa del Carmen: Mayakoba Golf Classic - The Mayakoba Golf Classic is not just the centerpiece of the PGA Tour and golf but at the same time, it is also a cultural attraction for people who are thinking of visiting Mexico this November.  The Mayakoba Golf Classic was first introduced in the year 2007 and since then it has contributed millions of dollars to different charities and philanthropic causes. It has also contributed to the welfare of communities including the Playa del Carmen. This classic is going to be held from November 5th to November 11th 2018. 

Dubai: DP World Tour Championship - The DP World Tour Championship will be held in Dubai from November 15th to November 18th 2018. This is a top golf destination if only because it gives you an excellent opportunity to watch the top sixty European Tour players compete in the last event of the Race to Dubai. General admission to this tournament won’t cost you anything though you may have to undergo pre-registration for free fast-track entry tickets.

Antalya, Turkey: European Tour Turkish Airlines Open, Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort - The Turkish Airlines Open takes place from the 1st of November to 4th November 2018. The 2017 winner Justin Rose will be defending his title, and this event also happens to be the sixth Rolex Series event of the European Tour of 2018. The total prize money at this event is seven million dollars and in addition, this event is also the most exciting tournament to be added to the 2018 European Tour.

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Club Med Cancun Yucatan Doubles The Size Of Its Aguamarina Family Oasis

CLUB Med has unveiled an expansion to the family-centric Aguamarina concept at its all-inclusive resort in Cancún, Mexico. As the pioneer of the all-inclusive, Club Med continues to build on its foundation of family-friendly vacations that accommodate all travelers. With the new expansion at Club Med Cancún Yucatán, the Aguamarina family oasis area is now more than double the size.

The new expansion introduces 60 all-new oceanfront family rooms – 30 Club Rooms and 30 Deluxe Rooms – with two-bedroom accommodations to create a comfortable experience for both parents and children while still keeping them connected. This new expansion increases the Aguamarina capacity to 120 family accommodations total.

Boasting a new pool dedicated solely to families with exhilarating water games, relaxing lounge areas and outdoor activities for all-day entertainment, the pool area also plays host to La Marina, a new family bar that features a dedicated kids' corner with a beverage and snack menu specially curated for children and their taste buds. 

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Number One city in Mexico is . . .

SAN Miguel de Allende, Mexico has been named the #1 top city, overall, for the second year in a row in the 2018 “Travel + Leisure” World’s Best Awards, which honor the top travel destinations and companies around the globe as rated by the magazine’s readers. The World’s Best Awards appear in the August 2018 issue of “Travel + Leisure,” on sale July 27 and online at this link: https://www.travelandleisure.com/worlds-best. The city was also named #1 in #Mexico.

The World Heritage site city is one of only three cities that have taken the top honors two years in a row. In the past, Kyoto and Sydney also have been ranked #1 twice sequentially.  San Miguel de Allende is known as the “Heart of Mexico” thanks to not only a central location, but also its rich history and continuous embrace of Mexican culture. Mexico’s independence movement was born in San Miguel de Allende and, in the 1960s, it became one of the country’s top colonial-era destinations when its perfect natural lighting, architecture and greenery began attracting foreign expats.

Today, San Miguel de Allende boasts more than 80 hotels - two of them Virtuoso members and one a Design Hotel, plus 30 boutique properties - around 70 international or Mexican restaurants, three golf courses, and several spas and art galleries.

The best way to see San Miguel de Allende is walking its streets and getting lost in its cobbled alleyways. Visitors will find a wonderland of colorful homes, stately mansions, balconies, doors and people. In the city’s surroundings, visitors can enjoy the natural heritage of the destination by bathing in hot springs, strolling vineyards, riding in hot-air balloons or getting their adrenaline pumping with an ATV ride.

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Picture Credit: supernova.gdl.mx 16871926@N00/17108128289 Bicentenario en San Miguel via photopin

Cruise magnet Puerto Vallarta

THE Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board welcomes the return of Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Miracle first call to Puerto Vallarta in seven years. Connecting San Diego and Puerto Vallarta, the ship is scheduled to make its call on December 2019.

Carnival Miracle will join the 2019 winter season offering 10 voyages from the Port of San Diego, kicking off on December 1, 2019, with a seven-day cruise to the Mexican Riviera featuring stops in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas.

Puerto Vallarta continues to be a great magnet for the cruise industry, the maritime terminal will receive 154 cruises this year with 404,734 people on board approximately, which represents 9 percent more than in 2017 when 145 vessels arrived.

Calls to the destination are expected to increase annually and Puerto Vallarta’s International Port (API) is preparing with an estimated $22 million USD extensive renovation and construction project that will improve port infrastructure, generate direct and indirect jobs, incentivize the Mexican Riviera's route and the Port - City link.

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Mexico grows as a world destination

THE Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) announced that Mexico's global air connectivity continues its growth trajectory with the addition of 1.5 million seats on direct flights to #Mexico in 2018. The increase in air connectivity is expected to result in nearly 30 million seats by the end of the year to accommodate travel demand to Mexico's top tourist destinations. Mexico welcomed 10.6 million tourists in the first quarter of 2018, a record-breaking number compared to the 9.4 million documented international visitor arrivals during the same period in 2017.

Mexico is now the 6th most visited country in the world with 39.3 million international visitors in 2017, of which 18.6 million traveled by air. Mexico's strong commitment to increasing air connectivity to match consumer demand has led to investments in developing close partnerships with airlines, hotels, and the tourism industry, diversifying tourism products, promoting new and established destinations, and offering travelers Mexico's world-famous friendliness, hospitality and first-class service.

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Cancun top destination for U.S. travellers

WITH summer around the corner, Allianz Global Assistance, a leading travel insurance provider, analyzed U.S. travelers' impending summer travel plans, and found that #Cancun, Mexico continues to top the chart. 

Despite the U.S. State Department's recent level 2 travel advisory to the area, which urges Americans to carefully consider their travel to the region, Cancun remains the top international destination for Americans. The survey also noted that San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital, is starting to regain its stride as a popular travel destination after last year's Hurricane Maria, coming in at number eight on the list.

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100 Reasons to Celebrate

PUERTO Vallarta’s annual LGBTQ cultural celebration, Vallarta Pride, will bring a new level of camp to the city’s celebration of the 100th anniversary of its founding with a “100 Reasons to Celebrate” theme, which will culminate on Saturday, May 26 with a grand nighttime shindig worthy of any small-town summer carnival – if that carnival featured half-naked “go-go boys” and drag queens galore.

Taking place in Puerto Vallarta from May 20 to 27, Vallarta Pride has grown yearly, with its 2017 edition attracting more than 17,000 visitors. The event has become a staple in the international Pride calendar, and now drives a considerable influx of visitors during what used to be the end of Puerto Vallarta’s traditional high season for tourism.

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Across the border

WHAT do you get if you mix some adventure junkies, Mexican Nationals, an American company, and a lot of tenacity to succeed? You get the website launch of GoHikeMexico.com, an adventure travel startup, with a proven track record of 8x growth and more than 2,000 travelers in two years.

#Mexico is a lot more than all-inclusive resorts in Cancun and Cabo San Lucas. There is 6,910 miles of shoreline, most with warm waters and amazing beaches. There is jungle, desert, cenotes, caves, mountains reaching over 18,000 ft. and one of the seven modern wonders of the world. This is the perfect country for American #tourism.

GoHikeMexico has focused on trekking and hiking in Mexico, because it is often overlooked in the adventure travel industry. This is an opportunity to educate and share, not only amazing expeditions, but the warmth of the culture as well. GoHikeMexico’s vision is to put Mexico on the map as an adventure travel destination.

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New bucket lists for senior women travellers

RECENT research indicates that women over 50 have new expectations about destinations. To satisfy this new demand, The Women’s Travel Group has added places overlooked by more commercial companies. The Women’s Travel Group has been offering tours for 26 years. All trips use 4-5 star or best available hotels, include many meals, and unusual sightseeing and often festivals. The company brings in speakers on controversial or political themes. Groups are small ranging from 10-18.

Coming up in 2018:

• Northern Ireland
• Sardinia with Rome
• Southern Spain
• Oaxaca, Mexico
• Brazil including Salvador

In 2019:

• Albania with Corfu
• Ethiopia
• Southern India
• Sri Lanka
• Iceland and Finland

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Modern Mexico's must visit destinations

MEXICO has a wealth of popular tourism features from the sun and the beach to cuisine, architecture, cultural, and historic experiences. Take a look at modern #Mexico tourism's most thrilling #destinations.

Huasteca - This secret oasis is green, mountainous, and full of waterfalls, forest, and ancient ruins. Ciudad Valles is the second largest town and has a wonderful choice of hotels and restaurants. You can spend your time canoeing, hiking, and visiting the Tamul falls. You’ll be able to organise a trip with locals to navigate up the river, and the Cave of Swallows attracts over a million birds in the early morning and late evening.

Templo Mayor and Teotihuacan - Situated just off the main square at Templo Mayor are the newest pyramids to explore. The excavation site displays stone-carved snakes, and other Aztec artifacts. An hour outside the city is Teotihuacan which hosts two giant pyramids with the Pyramid of the Sun measuring 213 feet tall – you can climb to the tops of both. This area is an archaeological heaven with digs and research still going on.

MUSA - This monumental underwater museum of art was formed in the waters surrounding Cancun. It consists of 500 permanent life-sized sculptures and is one of the largest and most ambitious underwater artificial attractions in the world. All of the sculptures are fixed to the sea bed and made from specialised materials to promote coral life.

Yucatan and Tulum - The Yucatan peninsula is well known for ocean front hotspots Tulum and Holbox, as well as for its Mayan culture, colourful colonial architecture, and local flavours. 

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New Archaeological site to open in Mexico

A new archaeological site called the Ichkabal Mayan – dating back to 300 BC – is set to open in 2018 in the southern region of Quintana Roo. The site is spread over more than 30 square kilometres and is believed to have been one of the most important political centres in the region during the Preclassic Mayan era. Located 82 kilometres from Chetumal in the municipality of Bacalar – the site is expected to increase visitor numbers to the region. 

www.visitmexico.com

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Top beachfront resort wins TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

CASA Dorada Los Cabos Resort & Spa, one of Cabo San Lucas top beachfront resorts, has been awarded with the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award. 

The accolade, which honors hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. 

Only the top-performing 10 percent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award.

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Picture Credit: Pintrest

World Travel Awards

CASA Dorada Los Cabos, Resort & Spa, a five-star resort in Cabo San Lucas, is proud to announce that it is competing to become World’s Leading Beach Resort for 2017. The World Awards are the top tier of the World Travel Awards program and nominees have a proven pedigree of being the world’s best.

World Travel Awards (WTA), now in its 24th year, is considered the Oscars of the Travel Industry. The annual program is renowned as the most prestigious and comprehensive in the travel and tourism industry. The honorable recipients of a WTA have undergone rigorous independent examination, proven their excellence and have raised industry standards.

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