We've done the beach so now what? Mexico's other treasures

So you have lounged on the beach sipping margaritas and mindlessly snacked on all the delectable treats brought to you by the beach butler that seems to anticipate your every need for a few vacations and now you're bored.  What's next?  There's still so much to explore beyond the shore in Mexico. All-Inlcusives are great for total relaxation and escape but even when you want more adventure you don't have to look beyond our southern neighbor.  There's a vacation for every type of traveler.

Last month I got to explore two destinations that showcase a different side of my favorite vacation destination.  The first one, the state of Veracruz, was packed with so many types of activities it's hard to even narrow down a few for this post. I'll point out a few, but my new friend over at about.com has a great top 10 list.

The beach doesn't compare to the Caribbean of course,
but Cancun can't beat the food here!  .  

A packed square full of music and great food at midnight
in Veracruz. You'll know you're in Mexico.

As part of the first Mexico Adventure Travel (ATMEX)  Conference I  went white water rafting for the first time,  discovered the magic of Catemaco's shamans and brujas, finally participated in a Temezcal ceremony and even learned about raptor migration.  Adventure travel doesn't have to mean roughing it in the woods or rappelling off cliffs, it's also delving into the culture of a place and living history beyond museums.  I think there's something here for just about everyone, from families, to homeschool groups and field trips for college Spanish classes and even corporate retreats.

So what are some things you can do with the kids that everyone will enjoy?

Glamping in a luxury tent at Mexico Verde. - They offer nearly every outdoor activity you could think of.  Whitewater rafting, rappelling, zip lines, kayaking, mountain biking and more.  Mom still gets to enjoy herself too since meals are included. (The food is great by the way) Suites with an attached bathroom made forget I was even sleeping in a tent.  

trying not to disturb the counters

The small education center packs in lots of knowledge
about the work they do tracking these birds 

Watching the 'River of Raptors' migrate through Veracruz. - Did you know Veracruz is home to the largest migratory bird concentration in the world?  Neither did I before visiting Pronatura and learning all about climbing vortexes and the like.  My son is quite excited about going next year to watch for Perrigrine Falcons.

Beginning of the season count

Explore an eco-reserve and learn traditions of the pre-Hispanic Olmec civilization -  Nestled in Los Tuxtlas is the town of Catemaco, widely known in Mexico for its shamans and annual gathering black and white magic followers stop twin peaks. There is so much more to this area that although you may go for the limpia, (aura cleansinig) the natural beauty of this region is the real magical lure.  Nanciyaga is a short boat trip over Lake Catemaco where the jungle was reclaimed for a model of sustainable ecotourism.  Look for the twin peaks where the practitioners of black and white magic gather in March opposite each other.

I didn't even get to the sea turtles, coffee growers, museums in Xalapa etc.  More for next time!

Finally, I can't leave off the million dollar question....Was it safe?  I  haven't hesitated to go to the typical resort areas after my first trip to Mexico 10 years ago, but I was a little anxious about Veracruz given the news coming out of the area last year.  After reassuring myself that of course the tourist board wouldn't let anything happen to a bunch of foreign journalists and travel agents (big gulp, right???) I went for it.  I've wanted to visit Veracruz since Henry Louis Gates featured the port on 'Black in Latin America'.  After a day, all my fears were eased and I enjoyed the city.  I talked to a few locals to see what the situation was really like there.  Not one person said they had any concerns now that the police have been replaced with the military.  I also talked with several Americans who now live in Mexico(some in areas that I've believed to be the most dangerous) to see what their perspective on safety was now.  Over and over I heard, 'it's worse at home'...from people who have nothing to gain from the tourism industry.    As if to further drive the point home, the week I got home there were several shootings  and an armed fugitive loose in my own town.  Of course drug violence is a problem, for both countries.  When traveling anywhere take your common sense and a little research with you.  The untold story of Mexico is that you will want to come back over and over again!  It is not that there is a cartel operative waiting to kidnap you.  The planes are flying full, so don't sit at home listening to the news while everyone else is living an amazing adventure.

Price vs. Value at All-Inclusive Resorts

I ask lots of questions with a new client to figure out what resorts will work best for them. Some people get impatient and just want me to spit the prices out & get on with it, but get it when they come back raving about how absolutely perfect their vacation was. If you want an order taker you can just use the website booking engine, but if you want advice you come to a real person right?

Just looking at price you're missing a big piece of the vacation puzzle.  Value!  If resort A is $100 more than resort B and you just pick it based on price alone you could be costing yourself more in the long run.  Without knowing what is included you really don't know if it's the great value you think it is.  At resort A let's say you spend $45 for Internet access, $50 for extra babysitting for a dinner alone and then another $30 for an upgraded meal at dinner; you've surpassed the difference already.  Those are just a few things that some luxury resorts include in the rates.  Some people don't want Internet, will  never leave their children at a kids club and only eat chicken so for them that $100 savings is best.   That's why we really work together to asses your needs and make sure you get the best value.  Of course the ultimate decision lies with you, do you want cheap or do you want an amazing deal?

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Is Freestyle Cruising For You?

We are fresh off the Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ship, the EPIC.  My husband has wanted to sail this ship since we first heard about it.  I have heard mixed reviews and was anxious to see what the real deal on this cruise really is.  People seem to either love it or hate it, not much in between.  My opinion?  People are buying someone else's perfect vacation instead of their own.  Sometimes it's because of price, other times it's because a friend went and loved it.  If someone hasn't taken the time to find the right experience at the right time you are heading for disaster if you're not a flexible person. One person I met on board complained that they had been on 16 cruises and this one just did not measure up to x,y or z line.  Well, the ones she mentioned were all traditional cruise lines with a generally older crowd.  If you want the over the top service on NCL, go for one of The Haven suites where you'll get butler service and still have access to the awesome entertainment for the kids or grand kids.  If you know you want a quiet ship 24/7 then EPIC is not for you at all.

    I heard the exact opposite from younger cruisers that had sailed on those other lines and hated them.  Yes, most ships  have kids clubs, but EPIC offered plenty of activities outside of the club for families to enjoy together.  My son loved Blue Man Group and wanted to go again. There was a family White Hot Party that began just a little before the adults and Nickelodeon shows at the pool for them 2 days.
Lots of people figure Disney or Carnival are the only cruise lines with great kids activities.  I personally don't care for wall to wall Disney and need a break from kids on vacation.  When we pulled into port beside the Disney Magic in Nassau and could hear Disney movies blasting from their pool deck on our balcony I thought I am so glad I don't have to hear that every day!  (Not to mention no casinos on any Disney ships)  One day we will give them a try, but most families that have asked to book Disney thought that was their ONLY option.
 If you enjoy set table mates and dining times Freestyle is probably not going to work for you.  If you have small children that you want to enjoy dinner with you in the dining room, a traditional 2 hour long dinner may not work for you.   That doesn't mean you can't change from one vacation to the next.  I have done both and enjoyed the formal dinner on Celebrity, but appreciated the relaxed dining this time on NCL.  We were able to eat early one day,  then enjoy a late dinner alone the next while my son enjoyed the activities in the kid's club.  We didn't have the same server each day, but you can request one if you like.
One other sticking point with people is the charge for the specialty restaurants.  It seems the perception is if there are so many paid dining options, the main dining rooms must be horrible.  No true at all!  We ate all of our meals in the free dining rooms, except one dinner at the Cirque Dreams show.  Before the cruise we intended to try at least one specialty restaurant, but we checked out the menu at Taste before going to dinner each night and always found something we wanted so we ended scrapping the specialty restaurant plans.   I've heard other complaints about the perceived nickel and diming, my husband included!  When I pointed out that to sail on the other new ship we would have spent at least $300 more per person before we even sailed he realized that it really did balance out if someone chose to eat in the specialty restaurants more often.
My only complaint is the way seating is done for Cirque Dreams.  The line for 'premium' seats wrapped around the corner 45 prior to show time, while the standard seats walked right in.  Basically there are only a handful of standard seats that are sold out early, then everything else is premium....so it's not really premium, just regular tables and a few booths with slightly obstructed views.

The stars of the cruise were definitely the crew in Recess and the Nickelodeon team.  My son was absolutely exhausted by the 4th day, but still begged to go back.  I did not hear one single family say their kids did not enjoy the activities....from the 2 year olds to teenagers.

For more pictures check the Great Scott Getaways Facebook page.
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Travel Insurance and the Unexpected

My eyes have been glued to news about the Costa Concordia tragedy since it happened.  While they are still searching for about 20 missing people at this time, I'm amazed that nearly 4,000 people were able to get to safety without organized direction from the crew.  The pictures, video and firsthand accounts on Cruise Critic have been amazing are riveting. 
Once Costa released their statement  that travelers scheduled to sail on the Concoridia will  have their cruise fare refunded by Costa, but not airfare and other expenses I wondered if most of those people were prepared.  With airfares from the United States easily $800 or more, a family could potentially lose thousands of dollars without insurance.  People don't take insurance nearly as much as they should in my oppinion.  Everyone seems to think there is no way their trip will be cancelled or they don't need medical coverage since they're young.  The last few years have been one freak occurance after another that should highlight the fact that we need to be prepared for the unexpected.  Remember that in a foreign country things will not function as you expect them to at home (even in the most developed countries, customs are different)