There is no better way to celebrate a very special birthday, than with a trip to Cancun, Mexico! Cris Laurino from our Creative Services Department just did this; so I asked her about her special trip. She stayed at the Gran Melia Cancun last weekend. Here is her review and photos to share.

“The hotel was breathtaking. Gran Melia is located on a very large, clean, white-sand beach. It was picturesque. The room itself was beautiful and we had superb turn-down service. I have to say the entire resort is spotless. The pool was nice with a great pool bar and fun music. The staff are super attentive and very informative, they go out of their way to make your stay memorable. Good food & drinks were a plenty. There was a welcome fruit basket when we arrived and you know we ate it all! The night before we left, we received three pinafores - delicious! I had not been to Cancun in a long time, and was very pleasantly surprised. This trip was a great celebration and a welcome break from the snow we were having at home!”

Thanks for the review Cris. And, Happy Birthday!!!

Gran Melia Cancun

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Royal Hideaway Playacar

We’ve receive questions and a lot of positive feedback about the beach restoration in Cancun & Riviera Maya and Cozumel. I thought it would be a good time to share what I know about Mexico’s efforts to rejuvenate their beaches. I’ve watched this progress unfold and what I’ve seen is a remarkable. Cancun has restored some of their beaches to their original, natural beauty — and the progress they’ve made is amazing.

The reason why they are doing this project is that Cancun proper, Riviera Maya and Cozumel have suffered beach loss, in isolated areas, over the past 3 years. Earlier projects to sustain further beach loss have been unsuccessful. Even though they are almost done, here is what I have been able to find out over the past few days.

1.     This project itself is not being managed by the resorts themselves. The Mexican Government is re-coooperating beach locations because there was little to no beach area due to erosion.
2.     If a beach is targeted for re-cooperation, it was because there was little or no beach.
3.     The Government has not provided a list of what beaches are earmarked for restoration nor have they published an official time-line.
4.     We do not have a schedule specifying what day construction will occur at what hotel.
5.     Construction typically takes only a few days, per hotel.
6.     They are working as fast and as diligently as they can, so that the beach restoration projects can be completed as quickly as possible and there is minimal interruption to resort guests.
7.     I have read on some sites that the work is to be complete by February 10, and other sites by mid-February.
8.     We know the Government was to target beaches in Cancun proper, in Riviera Maya and in Cozumel. At this time, from what we can tell, all the beaches in Cancun are complete and they are now working toward making beaches in Riviera Maya as beautiful as ever. …Read More>>

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We are all hearing the term “Spring Break” about now. Apple Vacations wants to introduce you to the new “Spring Break - Family Style”. Spring Break conjures up the thought of teens and kids in their early 20’s partying in a sun soaked destination. The reality is most hotels in Cancun, Riviera Maya and Punta Cana don’t even accept spring breakers. They are catering to a different market – The Family Market.

There is till time to book for this year! Reinvent the meaning of Spring Break and take the whole family to Cancun, Riviera Maya or Punta Cana.

Most hotel chains are creating rooms, activities and amenities to meet families’ needs.  Hotels are more family friendly than ever. Hotels offer family suites and “Family of  5 Friendly” rooms. In the past, families with 2 adults and 3 kids had to book 2 rooms. This is no longer the case. For bigger families, look to hotels such as Barcelo Family Deluxe, Dreams Resorts & Spas and Palladium Resorts. …Read More>>

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As a follow up to my blog the other day, I wanted to share the following E-Mail I received. I have been E-Mailing people I know, who have recently returned from Punta Cana, Cap Cana La Romana. I have asked them to share their recent experiences from resort. Here is one I’d like to pass on.

I returned last week from Punta Cana and have to say that it remains one of my favorite vacation destinations. The beaches are beautiful, the hotels are terrific and vacation values and service are over-the-top.

The tragic events in Haiti had no impact or effect in Punta Cana; I know because I was in Punta Cana when the earthquake struck Haiti. I didn’t realize this had happened until that evening when I turned on CNN. I spent the following three days inspecting hotels up and down the Punta Cana area coast, and can tell you that there was no effect. The services, facilities and features of Punta Cana are fully functional and it remains one of the best vacations areas.

Bruce Wilson, Apple Vacations’ Senior Sales Manager, New England, Albany and Hudson Valley

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It was 2 weeks ago yesterday that the earthquake hit Haiti. I was in the office when I heard the news and I called down to Punta Cana to check in with our sales team, who were in Punta Cana at their annual sales meeting. The sales team were nowhere near Haiti, and had not seen much of the news coverage yet, except to hear that there had been an earthquake. They were not in the U.S. where the coverage was chaotic and constant.

Punta Cana and Port Au Prince are about 400 miles apart or 12 hours away by car. There are mountains and extremely rough terrain that divide the two nations. So the resort operations and vacations are uninterrupted in Punta Cana, and it is business as usual. The Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism assures visitors that all of its cities, tourism and resort areas are conducting normal business operations. …Read More>>

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