Cruising The Dutch Antilles – Curacao vs. Aruba
Submitted By: Susan Gerle Cruising has become a safe way of traveling, especially when there is so much unrest in the world right now. Here is a compariso between 2 islands in the Dutch Antilles; Curacao and Aruba. Curacao wants to be a major tourist island, yet when we arrived by ship, the dock was no more than 50 metres long. As we looked to the right over the town we viewed a lovely seaside-walking path. The town buildings are nicely painted in the true Dutch tradition. Then our eyes moved left to a baseball park with busted, broken down, unpainted fences all in very poor condition. We continued looking to the left and noticed even more; 2 swimming pools surrounded with broken fencing and badly in need of paint. Straight ahead, there was no less than 15...
Read MoreUseful Tips To Avoid Robbery and Rip-Offs in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
By: Susan Gerle I have spent many years traveling and living in Mexico, especially in Puerto Vallarta. Recently I stayed in an all-inclusive resort for the first time. It was also my first experience getting robbed. 99% of the staff at the resorts are as honest as I am. There is always the 1% though that can’t be trusted. I personally feel the reason for robbery in an all-inclusive resort is the huge monetary distance between the staff and the customers. Most servers and housekeepers are averaging $5 to $6 per day in wages in Puerto Vallarta. In order to feed their families, it requires extra income from some source. The honest ones work 2 and 3 jobs. The thieves find robbing vacationers an easier way to make extra. How to Avoid Being Robbed Use the...
Read MoreHow To Scoop A Lounge Chair And Other Challenges At All-Inclusive Resorts
By: Susan Gerle I am normally a budget traveler but recently I stayed at an all-inclusive 4 star hotel in Puerto Vallarta for the first time. It was quite an experience. Simple things became a challenge, which surprised me. I thought staying at an all-inclusive meant a stress-free holiday. The first one was getting to the hotel. I know the Puerto Vallarta airport well and usually walk out the door and get on a city bus or grab a cab. This time the hotel supplied transportation. We were one of the first couples off the plane, so we had to wait for everyone else. An hour later we finally got to the hotel, normally a 10-minute ride from the airport. Then we lined up to check into our room, another ½ hour wait. But no problem, even though it was late in the...
Read MoreExperiences on an All-Inclusive Trip To Cuba
Submitted By: Susan Gerle Taking a vacation to an all-inclusive resort in Cuba can be a new experience for many. Here is a journal account of what you could expect. Day 1 was a non-event as we simply drove to the Marriott hotel in Toronto in prep for an early departure the next morning. Our only issue was having to drive slowly behind a couple of snowplows for what seemed forever. Day 2 started off well with a prompt departure from the Marriott to Pearson airport thanks to a great bus driver but then things changed when we reached the airport. The check in with Air Canada was fine with a very friendly, helpful hostess but then we hit security. While I sailed through the procedure myself it appeared it was my wife’s turn to be literally harassed by the...
Read More3 Great Side Trips From Cancun, Mexico
By: Susan Gerle The Mayan Riviera is a beautiful place to visit. Wherever you choose to stay there are 3 places you should considering visiting on a day trip. These include Isla Mujeres, Tulum, and Cozumel. Isla Mujeres (The Island of Women) Isla Mujeres is a small island located off the coast of Cancun and is considered part of the Mayan Riviera. The island is quaint and funky and offers a flavour of Key West mixed with a touch of European coastal areas. The hotels and motels are more like the 70s rather than the big resorts of today. If one wants to watch the sunrise, head the ¼ mile across the island to the ocean. For the sunset, just lay back in a hammock on the inland beach. It’s only a ½ hour boat ride from Cancun although it’s easy to end up...
Read MorePuerto Morelos, The Jewel Of The Mayan Riviera
By: Susan Gerle The white, silky sands of Puerto Morelos, and the turquoise blue of the Caribbean make a fantastic combination for visitors. With the second longest reef in the world, Palancar, just 600 meters off-shore the warm calm waters are great for swimming and snorkeling. Don’t be surprised if you end up swimming alongside a sting-ray, turtle, or barracuda in the calm waters. They come in closer to shore around the middle of February. It used to be anyone who discovered Puerto Morelos would go home with the message, “don’t tell anybody else about this jewel.” Gradually more people discovered it though and the tourists came. It’s a village that has attracted many Europeans as well as those from the United States and Canada often on their visits...
Read More7 Places to visit While In Valladolid Mexico
By: Susan Gerle Valladolid, (pronounced via dough lead) with a population of around 70,000, is a wonderful colonial town to visit while in Mexico. Take a 2-hour bus ride from the ADO (pronounced adio) bus terminal in Cancun. The terminal in Valladolid is located only 2 blocks from the main square and it is an easy walk. Don’t expect to find too many people who speak English. Mayan is the first language for many in the area and Spanish the second language. There are many interesting places to visit in and around the town. 1. The zocolo (main square) is lit up nightly with pink lights shining into the green leaves of the massive trees. The historical old church is situated on one end of the square and is open to the public. Across from the church is the...
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