Real Housewives Head to Riviera Maya

Big confession for those who don't know me well.  I am a reality TV junkie.  It's mindless, degrading, negative and my biggest guilty pleasure.  So this month I have been like a kid at Christmas watching The Real Housewives of Atlanta in Mexico.  The ladies headed to El Dorado Royale in Riviera Maya for some more fighting R&R.  Inspired by the ladies squeamish behavior at the cenote and Kenya's ignorance of mariachi I came up with a few side trips I would have scheduled for them and posted them to Facebook.  They did an excellent job of showcasing the wonders of Riviera Maya outside of the stereotypical Cancun binge drinking, but we could definitely use some more positive exposure for this destination.
Rio Secreto - Close to the resorts and an easy cruise ship excursion if you're in Cozumel for the day.  This underground river is an experience you won't find many places.

Isla Holbox - An slice of paradise with few cars so people get around the sandy streets on golf carts.  This is the jumping off point for wildlife excursions like whale shark swimming and bird watching.

Mayan Ruins - Tulum, Coba, Chichen Itza and several smaller archaeological sites are a short drive from the glitz of the resorts.

Xcaret- An eco theme park that combines native wildlife, culture, history and water activities in a family friendly attraction.

Dos Ojos Cenote - I've written about the cenotes before tight after my introduction to these natural wonders.  They can be found all over Quintana Roo and Yucatan states.

Best Golf Resorts in Mexico and the Caribean

Great golf courses are a staple in most vacation destinations these days.  Whether you need to get away from the family for a few hours, or bring the gang along there's an exciting array of choices. 

Grand Lucayan

The Bahamas
Grand Lucayan Beach and Golf Resort
This resort is just 45 minutes from Ft. Lauderdale Florida, so an  easy weekend retreat.  2 courses available with plenty of water features.  (13 out of 18 holes on the Reef Course)

Sandals Emerald Bay

Sandals Emerald Bay

This former Four Seasons occupies a quiet out island in The Bahamas.  The Greg Norman designed par 72 championship course was named one of the Caribbean's best golf courses by Travel + Leisure Golf.  Book a butler suite and you'll enjoy unlimited golf with your luxury accommodations.





Jamaica
The Ritz-Carlton Resort, Rose Hall
The White Witch Golf Course spans 600 acres of the Rose Hall Plantation (close to Montego Bay).  Mountainous terrain with scenic views of the sea might take the edge off the wind challenging your shot.

Weekly Junior Golf Clinic

Sandals- All of the Sandals and Beaches resorts in Jamaica offer access to the Sandals Golf and Country Club.  What sets this course apart is the fantastic offerings for the family.  Kids can get their own clinics with a golf pro (included with the stay!).

Riviera Maya, Mexico

Fairmont Mayakoba

Fairmont Mayakoba is one of the top golf resorts according to Conde Nast Traveler.  This is Mexico's only PGA tour stop.  If you want executive luxury this is the place.  The resort spans 47 acres of lush mangroves and tropical forests.  Covered boats and golf carts transport guests through the winding canals   connecting the two-story casitas.  Though most people don't think of a AA Five Diamond resort as being kid friendly, they do offer a kids's club for up to three hours a day and a free children's menu at select restaurants. 

Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort

Moon Palace Golf View Suite

The 27 holes here span scenic dunes and lakes at the interior of this expansive property.  There is so much to do here, the family won't notice how long you stay at the course, neither will your wallet.  Stay 3 nights and get free unlimited golf or make everyone happy by splitting the resort credits for golf, spa services, tours or room upgrades at this mega resort.  With onsite dolphin discovery, flow rider, tons of activities and a kid's club this resort is perfect for large groups and meetings.  Why not take your next tournament on the road?

Los Cabos, Mexico
The One & Only Palmilla features a Jack Nicklaus 27 hole course divided into 3 sets of challenging holes.  The Sea of Cortez is your backdrop for 12 of them.  Cabo is a golfer's paradise and a nature lover's dream with plenty of eco-activities available in the Baja region.  The resort has one of few swimmable beaches.

The One & Only Palmilla

Great Scott Getaways

3 Reasons to Avoid Timeshare Pitches

If you've come through the Cancun or Puerto Vallarta Airports you have probably been swarmed with timeshare sales people like bees to honey.  I always advise people to just put your sunglasses on and keep moving till you get to your transfer company.  They love to pose as helpful guides, trying to assist you in finding your way to the hotel.  Sometimes people are lured into listening to the pitches by promises of free tours, hotel upgrades and credits.

1.  That 'free' breakfast or tour of the property could very easily end up sucking up an entire day of your vacation.
Consider what you spent for that day and ask yourself it it really saved you anything.  Wasting the $400 dollars you spent for that day at the fabulous all inclusive resort is not worth $200 in free tickets to swim with the dolphins.

2.  The value of your timeshare may not be worth what you pay for it.  Check out this report from ABC.  If you must you can probably buy a resale for much less than the rep is pitching you now.

3. You may end up finding your own way back to the right hotel once they are done with you. 
Scroll through reviews and you'll find quite a few people who ended up stranded and stuck with a hefty taxi fare once they decided not to buy.

Your experience may vary, but why not enjoy your vacation and save the sales pitch for a rainy day on the road back home?

The Passion of Mexico- Tequila

What comes to mind when you think of a vacation in Mexico?  Usually the three things that top the list are the beach, Mariachi music and Tequila.  In the state of Jalisco you get all three in their purest form.   In Puerto Vallarta you have a classic sun and beach destination with dozens of luxury resorts.
Guadalajara brings you colonial sites where mariachi originated only an hour away from the town Tequila.  No explanation needed there.  If you're looking to crystallize the country in one trip, make it to Guadalajara.  Jalisco is Mexico.
I've wanted to go here for quite some time and finally made it recently during a conference.  I've been a fan of Tequila since before I could legally drink.  A stint in college working at a Mexican restaurant with an extensive spirits list taught me so much!  Knowledge of what sets a silver apart from reposado and anejo was required before we could even hit the floor.  (See kids, you really do learn something useful at every job, no matter how menial it seems at the time.)
While many Americans think of Tequila as a drink best slurped down in one grimaced gulp, the spirit is so much more than that.  After seeing the arduous hand crafting that goes into the process you'll never look at it the same...and you'll quit drinking  Patron believing you're having the good stuff.  After my trip to La Rojena, the Jose Cuervo distillery,  I had a new appreciation for the deep cultural significance of the drink to Mexico's identity. (The jimador at left is the 4th generation to harvest the agave.)

Pruning an agave plant

Cuervo is the oldest of several manufacturers that have plowed the fertile grounds of the area for over 250 years.  For non-drinkers the story behind the process is fascinating.  Listening to the tour guide I got a real sense of pride rather than a canned speech.  Of course there is plenty of Tequila to go around afterwards whether you like yours straight up or in a a margarita.  Tequila can be reached by a tour from Guadalajara or the express train that operates each weekend.    If your're thirsting for an excursion here contact Great Scott Getaways for more information.

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.