H1N1 part 2

I had a nightmare about swine flu yesterday that made me realize just how anxious I am about all the hysteria and panic. In my dream, I was on a plane that the government had decided should crash because there was a possibility that passengers were infected. Everyone onboard gathered around the cockpit begging the pilot not to do it, but he said he had no choice. The government told him he had to crash and he already had a spot picked out. People continued to talk to him and the 'government' on speakerphone and just when they were softening up...I coughed. Of course the mob turned on me and were about to throw me out of the plane when I woke up with my heart racing and sweating like I was doing yardwork.

On the Tripadvisor message boards someone posted pictures and wrote about how odd it is to see Cancun so quiet right now. That still makes me sad that many people will potentially lose their jobs over this and an already shaky economy will get worse for even more people, in Mexico and the United States.
They also noted that people aren't walking around with masks on and freaking out like we are here.  Those just returning from trips are raving about what a great time they had with resorts at only 30% capacity.  The service was over the top, pools and beaches are not crowded etc.  If I could go right now, I would definitely be there. 
Those that have chosen to change their plans seem to choose Aruba or Punta Cana as alternates.  Cruises are also a favorite summertime vacation, but with the numerous 'kids stay free' promotions all-inclusives are pricing very competitively this summer for families.   

Thankfully the wave of panic is subsiding a little, but once you've opened the gate it's hard to get all the cows back in. Now the pork industry is out in full force setting things straight. The President and media are more commonly referring to the swine flu as H1N1 to allay the public's fears about pigs. They are finally saying the masks are silly and ineffective if you are not sick.

I am over the cold I had last week thank goodness, so I hope there will be no more witch hunt dreams. My son however, has had a chronic runny nose and cough for months so we do get a few nervous glances at the playground. We've been playing in the backyard a little more than usual. I don't want one of the panic victims to freak out and throw him in the duck pond. (On a side note, he is having his adenoids removed at the end of the month, so please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. It is a very minor surgery, but it's still scary to us!)

Swine Flu Fever

I have resisted posting about the swine flu all week to see how things would unfold. Now we have our first confirmed case in the area, so it's a great time to address it. Warning: This post is heavy on my opinion so please go to the links provided for up-to-date information.
I have counted my blessings that this does not affect any of my current clients' itineraries, so I have not received one call about it! Thank goodness, because I happened to be sick and could barely talk. No matter what I said I am sure it would not have sounded very convincing since Cancun was my last trip. Never mind that was almost three months ago...CNN seems to think if you have ever thought about Mexico, been in a school or public place you are possibly infected. Can you tell I am a bit irritated?
The media coverage has just been unreal surrounding this! I have always looked at the media with a critical eye by training (my former career before travel was public relations) and lately they have just made my blood boil. The facts of this virus are buried beneath alarming headlines and dire warnings. Irresponsible reporting has been the real epidemic in my opinion and it has reached epic proportions the last year. Today I read in the AJC that Cancun was the epicenter of the outbreak. Really? Thought that was Mexico City. Do they realize that there are more cases in the U.S. than Mexico now? Are we now advising travelers to avoid New York? I monitor news updates from reliable sources who are not seeking ratings to get the most accurate information and still make sure to add a little common sense to that. I have yet to see the CDC advocate face masks as an everyday precaution. (But boy, those mask manufacturers must be doing a happy dance right now) The precautions they do suggest are things we should do anyway! Namely, wash your hands frequently. Use sanitizer, stay away from other people if you are sick. These simple little things will go much further in preventing infection than panic. You would be amazed at the number of people who know they are sick, yet go on about their day because they don't want to ruin their vacation or miss out on their cruise. People with some kind of bug are always around, not just when there's a catchy name for the virus of the moment.
Now that cruise lines are altering itineraries I am getting nervous, but not about the flu. Not everyone has decided Mexico is purgatory and some do look forward to specific ports of call on their cruises. I also feel for the local communities that depend so heavily on tourism. The faltering economy, drug violence at the border (another example of sloppy reporting) and natural disaster have already done a number on tourism. Real people depend on jobs that depend on tourists. We don't travel, they don't eat. I hope this will blow over soon once the next big thing in news comes along.

http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

Happy Earth Day!

As we focus on ways to go green in our lives at home don't forget that you can stay green on vacation as well! Make an effort to look for sustainable tourism, buy carbon offsets for your air or car travel and make sure you mind your trash to leave the destinations as beautiful as you found them.
According to the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism, the region boasts the largest concentration of Green Globe certified resorts in the world. http://www.cha-cast.com/GGproperties.html
I am particularly impressed at the efforts of Sandals and Beaches properties, which are all Green Globe certified.
http://www.beaches.com/general/greenglobe.cfm
http://www.sandals.com/general/greenglobe.cfm

When choosing shore excursions, try to look for activities that do not harm the very environment you are enjoying. Some areas do not encourage jet skis or water skiing to protect the fragile coral reefs and sea life. The Riviera Maya area near Cancun offers many excellent activities outside of Chichen Itza that showcase the lush jungle and archaeological sites surrounding the resorts. (Xel-Ha, Tulum, Xcaret) There's so much more than partying!

Buy local products and craft souvenirs whenever possible. Sure those 3/$10 t-shirts from China are tempting, but something unique will bring back great memories of your trip later.

Eat local food. OK, this may be difficult for some, but at least stay away from MacDonald's. Just as we should support local farmers at home, support those in the countries you're visiting. (Where do you think those patties are coming from when you don't see any cows?) I bet you'll be surprised at how many fruits and vegetable varieties seem exotic to us, but are staples in other countries...and you just might like it.

It seems to be a little harder to cruise green, but Holland America has made a commitment to do what they can from using low flow toilets to non-hazardous cleaning products.

If you have some other tips, or tourism companies that you feel do a great job protecting the environment comment and let us know!

Family Friendly Travel

As you're starting to look forward to summer break and family vacations take a look at some trips you may not have thought of. The first thing that usually pops up for families with young children is Disney world or other amusement parks. I do sell Disney packages as well, so I'm certainly not bashing them, but many parents have not thought of bring their kids to the Caribbean. When you add up the cost of food and everything you'll spend, most of the time it's comparable to an all-inclusive or cruise...and there are no line mazes!
Most cruises, resorts and large hotels offer daily activity programs for children. The particulars will vary, but in general most will have qualified staff supervising and leading children in activities related to the destination. They'll have fun learning about new animals, the ocean and other cultures all while you kick back with a nice tropical cocktail. The price of these is most often included with your rate.
Some of my favorite kid's programs include:

Norwegian and Carnival Cruise Lines: Their program starts with 2 year olds and they change diapers! The other major lines do not. Kids are divided up into age appropriate groups to keep everyone interested.

Dreams Resorts: Their program runs until 10 p.m. for kids 3-12.
Movies on the beach and rock climbing are also fun for everyone. This summer some of their properties are offering kids free!

Beaches Resorts: They have partnered with Sesame Street and Crayola offering shows, character visits and activities the young ones are sure to love. The nursery is even available with US certified nannies for babies. For the older set they offer 'night clubs' and the Scratch DJ Academy.

These are just a few of the kid-friendly vacations out there. If you have a specific hotel or destination in mind let me know.


While you will have a blast once you reach your destination I do recommend packing plenty of patience in your carry on. About the only thing TSA is consistent on is being annoying. I hate to say that because I do have a friend who works there, but airport security can be daunting for a parent.
Check here for current regulations http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm

Arrive early and pack lightly, but be prepared. I usually stock up on some dollar store toys before a trip. That keeps my son busy with things he hasn't seen before. I might even bring some snacks he doesn't usually have for when times get rough. Flight attendants are usually great at offering extra plane snacks to kids too. Your stroller will have to go on the x-ray machine, so keep that in mind when deciding between the umbrella and the big one. If you have a little one, just use a carrier instead. (I've had a patapum and a maya wrap) I also found one of those document holders that goes around your neck invaluble for the 10 times you get asked for your ID and tickets. No need to fumble in your pockets or back while trying to keep a hand on a little one.

Atlanta has a mini toddler playground in the Delta concourse to burn off some energy before your flight.
Make sure they are drinking something during takeoff and landing and bring Tylenol just in case they still get an earache. My 3 year old had been on lots of flights but has only had one big meltdown. Just like in everyday life with babies and toddlers sometimes it's unavoidable and you just have to grin and bear it. I have noticed that those with small children who were obviously nervous and very anxious had kids that just cried louder the more they shushed them. Figure out what it is and the meltdown will probably last a few minutes instead of an hour. Most people are understanding and won't give you the evil eye for the entire trip like I feared.

When it Rains it Pours!

The clouds are finally parting here after almost a week of rainy weather. The weather just echoed my mood with much of my time devoted to solving communication problems. Pouring meaning I had issues with snail mail and e-mail at the same time! It's times like these that make me afraid of our dependence on computers for just about everything.
I completely stopped recieving mail and after a long talk with the post office found out someone mistakenly directed my mail in the postal system computers 'return to sender'! I had no idea it was that easy to comletely screw up someone's mail. Apparently things don't even go to your local office before being rerouted anymore. It's all computerized. A wrong keystroke by an employee entering someone else's forwarding or mail stop order can send your things clear across the country without you ever knowing the difference. I had no idea that the postal system was even that advanced. Reminds me of that scene in the movie Eagle Eye where the packages were rerouted by the big computer. I thought only FED EX and UPS tried to be efficient =) Who knew the government could too!
My ISP, AT&T decided to have a problem communicating with other servers at the same time this week. In particular I could not send or recieve anything from hotmail addresses. This then spread to emails coming from GSG as well as my personal address. As of today it looks like all of the problems are fixed. Now I'm going to enjoy the sunshine this weekend!

If you sent me anything recently that was not replied to or recieved any returned mail please let me know. Most likely I never got it. I always respond to e-mails within 24 hours or you'll get an away message.

The Good, The Bad and The Excellence!

I just returned from an anniversary trip to Cancun. Since I have always focused on cruises and island getaways, this was an opportunity to get to know a new destination. We have been to Mexico a few times on cruise stops, but a little stomach trouble in Merida a few years ago has kept me from returning to experience the great all-inclusive resorts here. We were both quite nervous about getting sick and brought every over the counter medication known in the US with us. What a waste! We ate like pigs and never needed any of them. After a day or so, we stopped being so meticulous about bottled water and ice etc. and just ate and drank everything in sight. In hindsight, I did eat at a restaurant in Merida way off the beaten path in an area not frequented by American tourists knowing I have a sensitive stomach so I should have known better.
We both wish we had come here a long time ago and will definitely be back! I have decided to take some continuing ed courses to learn even more about the accomodations and activites offered in Cancun. There is something in Cancun and the Riviera Maya area for everyone. The long-standing reputation as party central for spring breakers and Girls Gone Wild is an image the area is actively seeking to shed. There are so many hotel options for families, singles and those seeking quiet retreats that the trouble won’t be finding a great resort, but choosing which one to start with! The airport is modern with so many direct flights from popular gateways it’s an easy weekend getaway. Airtran just introduced direct flights from Atlanta, joining Delta and Spirit.
We started with a resort in the hotel zone expecting to take full advantage of our first childless vacation in 3 years and party in the clubs till dawn. Guess what, we didn’t make it to one! We just used the public bus to sightsee, go to the flea market and shopping areas in the daytime. The bus runs all night is only 6.5 pesos. So, if you do make to the dozens of clubs there is easy reliable transportation back to your hotel. Cancun reminds me of a clean Miami. There are plenty of timeshare hawkers and people hustling you at every turn in the main club area, but I never felt unsafe. Just make sure you head straight out the doors of the airport when you land to ground transportation if you don’t intend to attend a timeshare presentation. They have desks there that pretend to be shuttles to get you to listen to the spiel. Some people enjoy going to those things, I do not.

We then went to the Excellence Playa Mujeres to end the trip with some R&R. When I tell you this place blew our minds, it doesn’t even come close to describing how great this experience was. From the moment you arrive at the resort gates you are pampered. The food was excellent at each of the restaurants we tried, every bartender was top-notch and the rooms were immaculate each day. This is one of the few properties that I have seen where the brochures accurately reflect the resort with no ‘creative photography’.
My husband was very skeptical about trying an all-inclusive resort. We went back and forth for a while about this, but I have had such a great experience at Sandals previously that I thought he would love the experience as well. I was prepared for everything to be compared to the cruise, however. Well, let me tell you that once we arrived here he never mentioned the word cruise again! One distinct advantage of Excellence above some other all-inclusives is the consistency of luxury and service across all room categories. All suites have an enormous furnished balcony with a great view, spacious sitting area and an indoor/outdoor Jacuzzi.
Even with, spotless suites, delicious food and a great beach; a resort is still only as good as it’s staff. Excellence did not disappoint here either. I am not exaggerating when I say these were some of the friendliest people I have ever met. Now, that is one area I can be very picky about. I don’t care if I’m at Motel 6 if the front desk is nice and the room is clean. I would rather stay at Days Inn that a Ritz-Carlton if the staff is snooty and unresponsive. (The other resort we went to in Cancun is supposedly a 4 Diamond leading hotel, but I would not even send my mother-in-law there if it was free.)
There is just enough activity here to keep you as busy as you want. The shows were enjoyable each night. My husband does not drink and still talks about how much variety there was at the bars. There is a fresh smoothie and juice bar, a coffee bar and each bartender knew quite a few things to keep him busy other than the ubiquitous pina colada. I of course can attest to the quality of everything else at the bar =) Overall if you’re looking for a relaxing, romantic resort that is not too far away from Cancun this is the perfect place. Excellence also has resorts in the Dominican Republic and another just south of Cancun and is also building a resort in Jamaica. I don’t know what I’ll do when I have to choose between Sandals and Excellence.

5 Reasons Not to Use a Travel Agent

This started with an article in Conde Nast last year, but I ran across it again on another blog (thanks Travel Horizons) and thought it sums up the airline ticket issue quite nicely...

KS

A travel consultant is not your best bet if you want...
1. The cheapest options
If your goal is to put together the least expensive trip possible, don't call a travel consultant. While budget travel is the best way for many people to fulfill their dreams of seeing the world, I have no expertise in recommending one 100€ Paris hotel over another. Online forums such as fodors and tripadvisor are ideal venues for feedback from other travelers.

2. Airline tickets only
Because airlines do not generally pay commission anymore, many travel consultants do not even book air. As travel agencies are actually charged a fee to ticket a flight, that expense — along with compensation for the time involved — has to be passed onto the consumer in the form of a service fee. The least expensive way to book air is, first, to use a comparison booking engine such as ITA Software. Research your best options, then book directly yourself on the airline's own website to avoid service fees. I will gladly provide air if you want a hotel + air package to Hawaii, the Caribbean, Mexico, the South Pacific, etc., but for airline tickets alone... I don't do air ™.

3. Single components of a trip (e.g., a one-day tour, a restaurant reservation)If you've already booked your own hotel rooms for your upcoming trip, don't call a travel consultant asking for a single restaurant reservation or a suggestion for a one-day tour. There would be a charge for this service. Your best bet: email the concierges of the hotel(s) in which you will be staying.

4. B&Bs or run-of-the-mill hotels (such as those of a mid-priced chain)It's largely economics. B&Bs generally do not pay commissions at all, and you can research and book them yourself online. The commission on a one-night stay at a budget or moderate hotel room does not pay for the time a travel consultant spends researching the possibilities, discussing them with a client, making the booking, invoicing the booking, and then chasing the commission when it doesn't get paid. But most significantly, mid-priced hotel chain rooms are commodity items. There is no added-value that a travel consultant can provide.

5. Redeeming frequent-flier miles or guest points
This is time-intensive work with no commission from the airline or hotel. Do you want to pay a travel consultant's hourly fee to wait on hold?