Best Times to Book Your 2010 Summer Vacation

The post-holiday, early-winter doldrums provide an ideal time to start daydreaming about summer vacation. Whether that means a camping trip in a national park, some serious beach time, or a European jaunt, timing is everything when it comes to finding the best deals and availability.

But is booking early always the right approach?  Here’s the rundown on when and why to book summer cruises, vacation rentals, and trips to Europe and national parks.

Cruises
Fans of cruising often talk about how easy travel is aboard a ship. You only have to unpack once, but you see many different places. Food and entertainment are never more than a short stroll away. It works whether you’re going solo or traveling with a crowd. And with so many different itineraries, there’s always more to see.

Booking a summer cruise presents a unique set of challenges. Carolyn Spencer Brown, Editor-in-Chief at Cruise Critic, says that when to buy depends on what you want out of a cruise. While the most popular summer cruise regions are the Mediterranean, Alaska, and the Caribbean, deciding when to book will depend as much on you as it does on where you’re going. Spencer Brown says, “If you have specific requirements in terms of dates and accommodations style, the ‘best’ time to book is sooner rather than later.” However, she notes, “If you are really flexible, the ‘best’ time is going to be closer in, when you can nab bargains.”

In general, “wave season,” the cruise industry term for the January to March booking period, is a good time to book summer sailings. Spencer Brown advises: “Definitely keep an eye on wave season deals, which are more oriented toward offering value than the deepest discounts. You may pay more for a cabin than you would at the veritable last minute, but you might also get free air thrown in, which sort of mitigates the issue.”

Vacation Rentals
Vacation rentals tend to offer great value, especially for larger groups looking for a kitchen for cooking and extra space to spread out. Best of all, they come in all shapes and prices, providing hundreds of ways to build a dream vacation within budget whether you’re headed for a mountain lodge, an oceanfront cottage, or an urban condo.

In popular destinations, you’re better off starting your rental search at least six months in advance, according to TJ Mahony, CEO and co-founder of SmarterTravel’s sister site FlipKey. Being the early bird ensures the best selection and the best homes. So, for instance, if you’re eyeing a summer escape to Cape Cod, booking early is key, since the summer season is short and demand is high.

However, the rules change if you’re headed to a destination that is less popular in summer. Mahony offers the example of mountain regions, which tend to be busy in winter and quieter during summer, saying, “there, typical vacation rentals are running at about 30 percent occupancy for the whole season, so you can often find availability up to two weeks in advance and more flexible pricing.”

To get the best combination of affordability and amenities, Mahony recommends zeroing in on the three to five properties you’re most interested in, trying for a mix of homes overseen by management companies and owners. Management companies might be able to offer more amenities, while owners can sometimes provide slightly better prices. By contacting both, you can find the right balance for you.

Europe
If your number one priority is to save money, summer is the wrong time to visit Europe. It’s the most expensive season for airfare, and hotels are in higher demand. However, if your goal is more modest, say not to overspend, you should find success.

First, you’ll need to adjust your expectations on the airfare front. Not only are the current sale prices to Europe unseasonably high, but they only cover winter and spring trips, not summer flights. As summer creeps closer, don’t expect a huge influx of sales either: Summer airfare sales to Europe aren’t common, since demand tends to be high enough that airlines don’t have to entice fliers with discounts.

So what can you do? Start benchmarking prices early in the year so you’ll know when prices for your departure and arrival cities drop. And when you do eventually see a price that looks relatively good, grab it. As a rule of thumb, look to book up to six months in advance for destinations in Eastern Europe, and to book two to three months in advance (or if you’re a risk taker, wait until the last minute and see if you can score yourself a deal) for Western Europe.

However, throw all that biding your time stuff out the window if you’re planning on booking award seats using frequent flyer miles. Since seats are available for booking 330 days before the flight date, it’s already too late to be first in line for summer award travel to Europe. But all is not lost if you haven’t booked yet. SmarterTravel’s Tim Winship suggests booking ASAP, and checking back with the airline if your dates aren’t available, as availability can change at any time. He also suggests being flexible in your search: “Departing mid-week will increase the odds, and if flights to London and Rome are booked solid, perhaps there are seats available on flights to Manchester or Amsterdam.” When all else fails, he says, “call and speak to a reservations agent. Sometimes they have access to seats that aren’t shown on the airlines’ online booking applications. Other times they can create an itinerary that bypasses availability bottlenecks. Or they may be able to authorize booking a seat that was being blocked for future sale. And if they’re unsuccessful, you won’t be charged a booking fee, so there’s little risk.”

For hotel bookings, your strategy should be sooner rather than later. By booking early, you’ll find more availability, and are more likely to be able to get the room type you want. And if you’ve got your heart set on a particular room or view, booking early is essential.

National Parks
Summer is high season at national and state parks with good reason. The weather is perfect for camping, hiking, and just generally enjoying the splendor of nature. And this summer, big birthdays offer even more reasons to visit. Glacier National Park in Montana turns 100 this year, and the Blue Ridge Parkway celebrates its 75th anniversary, as does Big Bend National Park in Texas.

For most summer trips to national parks, the time to book is now. Jeffrey Olsen at the National Parks Service (NPS) says, “It’s always best to book summer trips sooner rather than later. If you’ve decided on a destination, book it.” If you haven’t yet narrowed down your options, you can browse park listings and check out the “Plan your Visit” portal for details about where to stay and what to do. For the best prices, check for member (auto and travel clubs) discounts, and if you’re over 62, consider getting an America the Beautiful Senior Pass, as it is also good for discounts. When you’re searching, don’t forget that many towns near national parks have hotels, resorts, and campgrounds.

The big exception to the book early rule is that some campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis. And if summer comes around and you find yourself outside a park lodge at 6 p.m. without a reservation, Olsen recommends asking at the front desk to see if there have been any cancellations. You just might get lucky.

According to an informal NPS survey, most Americans are within a half-day drive of a national park. That means that fun for any budget is within reach this summer, because as Olsen says, “National parks are always a good value, and summer 2010 won’t be an exception.”

Do you have your next summer vacation picked out yet? What destinations are in your future? Contact Sunsational Vacations to start planning your summer vacation today!

How to Have a Perfect Time in Port

Cruises may be a steal nowadays, but your total trip cost can skyrocket once you factor in shoreside sightseeing and activities, especially if you opt for the ship’s group tours. So how do you get the most for your time and money in port?

[1] If your lifelong dream is to see a particular sight—say, the Acropolis—book a cruise that starts, ends, or overnights in that port. Ships can cancel port calls because of unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather or a labor strike. On a Mediterranean cruise, for instance, rough seas prevented our ship from sailing into Piraeus Harbor—which meant we missed our one and only day in Athens.

[2] Decide well in advance how to spend your hours in port. Web access can run a dollar a minute at sea, so waiting till you’re on board to check out port options is expensive. And don’t rely on the concierge desk, since most any cruise line’s goal is to sell you its tours. Start your excursion research right after booking a cruise.

[3] Perusing the list of shore tours sold by the cruise line is a good way to begin your research, but don’t stop there. Check out the Web sites of local tourist boards, as well as sites specializing in day-trips—ShoreTrips.com, Viator.com—and local tour agencies with a focus on your interests (say, fly-fishing or wineries).

[4] Find local events scheduled for the day you’re in port. Is there a cultural festival or sports tournament happening? Read local English-language newspapers online for event listings, and check museum Web sites for exhibitions and hours.

[5] Calculate travel time from the ship to the sights you want to see. The trip from Barcelona’s pier to its Gothic Quarter is a ten-minute taxi ride, whereas going from Civitavecchia into Rome can take two hours. To compute your travel time, ask which pier your ship will use and whether it will anchor or dock. If it anchors—which means you must line up to board tenders to go ashore—passengers who have signed up for a ship tour will likely get to disembark before those with independent port plans. The cruise line should be able to tell you travel time from the pier to destinations included in its shore tours.

[6] Research public transit options. They can be faster, not to mention a lot cheaper and more authentic, than the ship’s bus tour. Lonely Planet guidebooks often have good logistical information, and you can usually find train, bus, and ferry schedules online.

[7] For the greatest flexibility, rent a car or hire a taxi by the day or half-day. On islands or in ports where there’s a rental car agency at the pier (and where the cost isn’t prohibitive), I’ve found that renting a car is the best way to see the sights. If driving seems too risky, opt for a taxi. On European and Caribbean islands, cabs usually cost about $120 for four hours, and many drivers speak some English.

[8] In ports where everybody will be headed to the same famous landmark, book a private car and driver in advance. The car can meet you the minute you disembark, allowing you to bypass the taxi line and the groups boarding the buses. By booking a car and driver in Izmir, Turkey, we beat the crowds to the Greco-Roman city of Ephesus, then headed to the ancient wine- and olive-oil-making village of Sirince for a Turkish feast, not a tourist in sight. The cost of the transportation, Ephesus tickets, and lunch for four? $272. The ship’s bus tour to Ephesus for four? $508. Hire a car and driver either through an excellent cruise travel agent who knows guides and drivers worldwide (see “Perrin’s People,” August 2009) or through a local concierge: If you plan to have lunch at a resort, for example, you could ask its concierge to arrange for the car.

[9] Where private arrangements are too expensive and logistics too challenging, opt for a ship tour. When I looked into booking a private day-trip to the Pyramids from the port in Alexandria, the cost for four was more than $2,000. Instead, we chose the cruise line’s excursion to Giza for $199 per person and enjoyed desert jeep and camel rides that would have been impossible to organize on our own.

[10] When the only way to gain access to a monument or activity is via a ship-arranged group tour, book early—before it sells out. Our one day for seeing Alexandria itself was a public holiday, so to visit its famous library, the Bibliotecha Alexandrina, we had to take a tour organized by the ship. Indeed, the sole way to participate in many adventure activities—four-wheel drives, dogsledding, helicopter rides—is often via a ship tour.

10 New Air Travel Regulations You Need To Know

Families flying to the U.S. are urged to prepare for new security regulations in place at international airports around the world.

Since Northwest Flight 253 was threatened on December 25, 2009 by a passenger carrying explosives, the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and many international governments have imposed confidential air travel security measures that will impact travelers around the world.

We alerts all travelers, especially families with young children who may be carrying gift items or toys, to be prepared for the enhanced and possibly invasive security procedures. As Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano has cautioned, “These measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same thing everywhere.”

10 Facts Travelers Should Know
* Enhanced security precautions are in place at all international airports with flights to the U.S.
* Passengers must arrive especially early for any international flight as enhanced security on U.S. Bound flights is affecting all travel times.
* All carry-on bags are being subjected to extra security screenings, causing delays at security gates.
* The Canadian government has banned all carry-on bags for passengers traveling to the U.S. because new screening requirements are causing excessive delays. Only exceptions are purses, cameras, coats, laptops, musical instruments, medical devices and items for baby care.
* TSA urges all travelers to check as much carry-on baggage as possible but says that items such as car seats will be accepted on board flights.
* Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are both waiving some baggage fees for the mandatory checked baggage on flights to the U.S. from Mexico and Canada.
* According to the TSA, all passengers regardless of age (including minors and unaccompanied minors) will be subject to additional screening if selected at random or if circumstances warrant.
* Secondary passenger screenings are very likely to include full body pat-downs and manual inspection of all hand carried items.
* In flight, at the discretion of the pilot and the individual airline, passengers may be required to stow all their personal belongings for any portion of the flight.
* In flight, passengers may be required to remain in their seats with their hands fully exposed to view, for any portion of the flight but most likely, for the final hour of the flight.

Additionally, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reminds travelers that, according to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, all U.S. and Canadian citizens, age 16 and older must present a valid, acceptable travel document that denotes both identity and citizenship when entering the U.S. by land or sea. All air travelers of any age are required to present a passport at time of entry to the U.S. 

We suggest that parents discuss these enhanced security procedures with their children prior to travel, and that travelers use the CBP website to check on the estimated waiting times at all U.S. air, land and sea borders before making their travel plans.

Royal Caribbean: Boarding world’s largest cruise ship will be a breeze

TURKU, Finland — It’s a truism of the cruise business: The bigger the ship, the more delays there are during boarding. But Royal Caribbean executives say the much-ballyhooed Oasis of the Seas — by far the largest cruise ship ever built — will be an exception to the rule.

Speaking during a tour of the soon-to-debut, 5,400-passenger vessel Thursday at the STX Europe shipyard in Turku, Finland, Royal Caribbean Chairman and CEO Richard Fain said the company is making some major changes to the way it handles the boarding process to ease congestion.

Perhaps the most notable difference: On port call days, the line will conduct security screenings on passengers reboarding the ship before they reach the gangplank, while they are still on land.

On most ships today passengers go through metal detectors and have their bags examined by x-ray machines only after they step onboard, creating a backup right around the doorway.

“There’s one doorway (into the ship) and everyone has to come through that doorway and go through screening, creating a bottleneck,” notes Fain. Under the new system of pre-screening before passengers reach the gangway, “there’s no bottleneck anymore.”

Royal Caribbean is developing dedicated security screening facilities on land at the ports that Oasis will visit including St. Thomas, St. Marten and Nassau, The Bahamas. Fain tells USA TODAY that not just Oasis but other Royal Caribbean ships will be able to use them.

It’s just one of several initiatives Royal Caribbean is taking to cut down on lines. Lisa Bauer, the company’s head of hotel operations, tells USA TODAY that during the design process for Oasis the company looked at every aspect of its operations to find ways to minimize hassles for passengers and is tinkering in a number of areas.

Among the most notable changes, says Bauer: the addition of “universal waivers” for activities on Oasis. In the past passengers had to stand in line to sign waivers each time they wanted to try a ship activity such as rock climbing or ice skating. Now they’ll be able to sign a universal waiver online before they set sail that will clear them for all such activities in advance. Attendants at the various activities will be able to check that passengers have signed the waiver by scanning their keycards.

Also new, says Bauer: Mobile cash registers. Waiters on Oasis will carry around small tablets on which passengers can sign for drinks electronically — eliminating the need to print out paper receipts for signing.

“No more paper,” is the new mantra, says Bauer.

Worst Part of a Trip May Be Booking It on the Web

If you dreaded sitting down at your computer the last time you made travel arrangements or felt frustrated by all the time and effort it took to sort through pages of results for flights and hotels, join the crowd.

A new report, to be released Tuesday by Forrester Research, found that far from embracing the do-it-yourself era, many consumers were fed up with the complicated process of planning and booking travel.

“What we’ve seen is growing frustration,” said Henry H. Harteveldt, a Forrester travel analyst. “Consumers see other Web sites becoming easier to use — retail Web sites, banking Web sites, media Web sites. But travel is treading water as a category. There are very few travel companies that are really looking to improve the planning and booking process.”

Instead, customers are forced to figure out extra fees, wade through fine print and understand industry terms like the difference between a deluxe and a standard room, in addition to educating themselves about destinations, flights and hotels, Mr. Harteveldt said.

“Travel companies expect the consumer to behave like a travel agent,” he explained. “The question I always ask these guys is, ‘Could your mother-in-law use your Web site without having to call you for help?’ The answer is always no.”

In fact, Mr. Harteveldt said a growing number of consumers appeared to be interested in using an offline travel agency, if they could find one.

“The fact that there are more people now who would consider using a good offline travel agent is telling me people are saying, ‘Enough already,’ ” he said.

As the industry faces what may be a prolonged passenger decline, analysts say companies are under greater pressure to address travelers’ concerns.

“Do you really want to run a business where you’re annoying one out of three of your customers?” Mr. Harteveldt said. “My concern is that this frustration could continue to grow.”

To avoid the hidden surprises that can ruin your trip if you book a trip yourself on-line, contact Sunsational Vacations, LLC today!

Mexico Travel Tips… Know Before You Go

The following cities and areas are some traditional destinations in Mexico for travelers on Spring Break.  While other resort areas may not be as well-known for this type of travel, the advice contained here still applies:

Acapulco:  Drug-related violence has been increasing in Acapulco.  Although this violence is not targeted at foreign residents or tourists, U.S. citizens in these areas should be vigilant in their personal safety.

Avoid swimming outside the bay area.  Several American citizens have died while swimming in rough surf at the Revolcadero Beach near Acapulco.

Cabo San Lucas:  Beaches on the Pacific side of the Baja California Peninsula at Cabo San Lucas are dangerous due to rip tides and rogue waves; hazardous beaches in this area are clearly marked in English and Spanish. 

Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Cozumel:  Cancun is a fairly large city, approaching 500,000 inhabitants, with increasing reports of crime.  Crimes against the person, such as rape, commonly but not exclusively occur at night or in the early morning hours, and often involve alcohol and the nightclub environment.  Therefore, it is important to travel in pairs or groups, be aware of surroundings, and take general precautions.  To protect against property crimes, valuables should be left in a safe place or not brought at all.  If you are a victim of a crime, immediately notify the U.S. Consular Agency in Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Cozumel or the U.S. Consulate in Merida at the telephone numbers provided below.

If you rent a moped or other vehicle in Cancun, it is advisable to purchase third-party insurance, as the insurance offered on some credit cards will not cover you in Mexico.  Should you have an accident or cause damage to the vehicle, you may be required to pay the full amount of any repairs, in cash, as determined by the rental agency, or face arrest.

In Cancun, there is often a very strong undertow along the beach from the Hyatt Regency all the way south to Club Med.  Already this season, several U.S. citizens have drowned when overwhelmed by ocean conditions.    In Cozumel, several drownings and near-drownings have been reported on the east coast, particularly in the Playa San Martin-Chen Rio area.
 
Matamoros/South Padre Island:  The Mexican border cities of Matamoros and Nuevo Progresso are located 30 to 45 minutes south of the major Spring Break destination of South Padre Island, Texas.  Travelers to the Mexican border should be especially aware of safety and security concerns due to increased violence in recent years between rival drug trafficking gangs competing for control of narcotics smuggling routes.  While it is unlikely that American visitors would get caught up in this violence, travelers should exercise common-sense precautions such as visiting only the well-traveled business and tourism areas of border towns during daylight and early-evening hours. 

Mazatlan:  While the beach town of Mazatlan is a relatively safe place to visit, travelers should use common sense and exercise normal precautions when visiting an unfamiliar location.  Avoid walking the streets alone after dark, when petty crimes are much more common.  Beaches can have very strong undertows and rogue waves.  Swimmers should obey warning signs placed along the beaches which indicate dangerous ocean conditions.  
 
Nogales/Sonora:  Puerto Peñasco, a.k.a. “Rocky Point,” is located in northern Sonora, 60 miles from the U.S. border, and is accessible by car.  The majority of accidents that occur at this Spring Break destination are caused by individuals driving under the influence of alcohol.  Travelers should exercise particular caution on unpaved roads, especially in beach areas.
 
Oaxaca City:  There have been ongoing demonstrations and protests in Oaxaca City due to civil unrest since June 2006.  Several groups have engaged in violent demonstrations in Oaxaca City, which resulted in the death of an American citizen in October 2006.  Prior to traveling to Oaxaca City, U.S. citizens should monitor the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City’s web site, http://mexico.usembassy.gov/mexico/citizen_services.html, as well as http://travel.state.gov for the most up to date Safety and Security information.  U.S. citizens should avoid participating in demonstrations and other activities that might be deemed political by the Mexican authorities. The Mexican Constitution prohibits political activities by foreigners, and such actions may result in detention and/or deportation.

Oaxaca (coastal):  There have been a number of drownings along the beaches of the southern coast of Oaxaca, namely Zipolite Beach.  Professional lifeguard training has contributed to a drop in fatalities, but swimmers are advised that currents can quickly become treacherous, even for accomplished swimmers.

Tijuana:  Tijuana has one of the busiest land border crossings in the world.  The beach towns of Rosarito and Ensenada also attract a large number of tourists.  Drinking alcoholic beverages excessively on a public street is prohibited.  Tijuana boasts a large number of pharmacies; to buy any controlled medication (e.g. Valium, Vicodin, Placidyl, Morphine, Demorol, and Ativan, etc), a prescription from a Mexican federally registered physician is required.  Possession of controlled medications without a Mexican doctor’s prescription is a serious crime and can lead to arrest. The prescription must have a seal and serial number.  Under no other circumstances should an individual purchase prescription medicines.

Register with the Embassy or Consulates
Registration with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate (in the country you are visiting) makes your presence and whereabouts known, in case it is necessary for a consular officer to contact you in an emergency. During a disaster overseas, American consular officers can assist in evacuation were that to become necessary, but they cannot assist you if they do not know where you are.  You can register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration web site.

Karisma Exec Speaks Out About Violence in Mexico, Says Riviera Maya is Safe

Mandy Chomat, vice president of marketing and sales for Karisma Hotels & Resorts, vented to Travel Agent Tuesday about the false belief by consumers that the Riviera Maya and other non-U.S. bordering Mexico territories are unsafe. A string of brutal murders of local police officials earlier this month along with other ongoing violence in Mexico prompted the State Department to issue an official travel alert for all Americans planning to travel to Mexico.

What gets lost in the alert, however, is the fact that only U.S. bordering towns, mainly Tijuana, have been the scenes of the crime. But the Riviera Maya, Los Cabos and other territories far away from the crime scenes, are being found guilty by association in clients’ eyes and Chomat can’t take it anymore. In a one-on-one phone interview, Chomat told us that operators and agents, now, more than ever, need to stress to their clients that not all of Mexico is unsafe. Despite attacks near the U.S border, other territories like the Riviera Maya have remained just as safe as they’ve always been. Although repeat customers will continue to flock to Karisma’s Riviera Maya properties, Chomat is concerned that the exaggerated news may turn off honeymooners and other first-time visitors.

“It’s frustrating because what is going on in Mexico City and its border has nothing to do with Cancun, the Riviera Maya or other parts of Mexico that are no where near where the violence is occurring,” Chomat told us. “We’ve even gone as far as to show operators and agents maps to point out how far away our destination is from the border towns.”

Chomat isn’t alone in his frustration. He said he recently met with hoteliers from Los Cabos and other regions in Mexico that were being unfairly linked to the violence. “People see a warning to Mexico and think its all of Mexico,” Chomat says. “I don’t think they realize how big of a country it really is. We really need agents and operators to stress this fact to them.”

Chomat recently visited the Riviera Maya and vouches for the territory’s safety. “It is not a border town, there are no drug routes here, this is a tourist destination,” he argues. “There is tight security at all of our hotels and about 95 percent of our clients use private transfers from the airport.

“I don’t know how long it is going to take for everything in Mexico to return to normal, it could take some time,” he continued. “But the belief that the Rivera Maya is unsafe is something that needs to be taken care of right now. We need all the help we can get to spread the word that we are in no way tied to any of the violence that occurred in the border towns. The highest levels of the Mexico government really need to straighten this mess out.”

Visit www.karismahotels.com.

Riviera Maya all-inclusive resorts paradise for families

Spanish lessons, yoga or a snooze on the beach in an oversized casita?

Young guests have fun in the sun with a counselor at Azul Beach Hotel.

Beach butlers hustle with tall frozen drinks while adults and kids gather at the interconnected pools’ swim-up bars and restaurant decks.

A toddler sleeps peacefully in one of these spacious “beach beds” (her mom says she’s so grateful she doesn’t have to spend naptime in their room), a grandfather plays cards with his granddaughter in another and a dad tosses a football along the beach with his sons.

There is a beach volleyball game going on at one end of the beach and a kids’ soccer game at the other. A group of adults play bocce ball on the beach. A mom goes out in a kayak with her daughter.

Welcome to a spanking new resort — the 438-room beachfront Azul Sensatori by Karisma — on the “Bahia Petempich” in Riviera Maya. The Azul Sensatori is about 20 minutes south of Cancun International Airport and roughly a half-hour north of Playa del Carmen.

My mission: To see if a vacation with active teens and young adults can be successful at an all-inclusive resort. When the kids were younger, I liked all-inclusive resorts for the organized kids’ activities that gave parents a break. I also liked the fact that I didn’t have to pay exorbitant prices for soft drinks and burgers they never seemed to eat.

Today, I’m still glad for the complimentary activities and for the drinks — the alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic kind — that are included, along with their food, since my three kids who are now 17, 22 and 24 and my 27-year-old nephew, who has joined us, eat a lot more these days.

“We can get whatever we want and try things,” said Jen Pfeifle, a college senior happily traveling with her family from Michigan. We meet families of all ages and sizes — a wedding group, family reunions (there were some 15 family reunions the week we visited) — that have come from the United States, Canada and Britain to a resort that can truly deliver some family fun in the sun 21st-century style.

So can the company’s two other nearby resorts. Children between the ages of three and 12 receive a 50 percent discount based on double occupancy when sharing rooms with parents at all of the Azul hotels. The 98-room Azul Beach Hotel is just a short walk down the beach and seems ideal for young families — and we see many with grandparents in tow.

Parents of kindergartners and young grade-schoolers love that the place is small enough so that the kids can run to the bathroom or back to their room and that the staff — who know their names by the second day — keeps an eye on them. “They’d see us coming and have the high chair ready,” said Jen Schwarz, who was from New York and traveling with her toddler and extended family. Kids love the smoothie bar.

We loved the on-site sailboat and snorkel operation, beach tree houses overlooking the ocean and, if you’re too lazy to move for lunch, the beach butler will bring you a picnic. “If we were staying here, I’d sleep in the tree house,” my daughter Mel says.

Another half-hour south, just outside the lively beach town Playa del Carmen, is the Azul Fives Hotel, the newest in this hotel group (set to open Feb. 24, 2009). Azul Fives promises to work especially well for family reunions, and for those traveling with older kids (like mine) who want to be near a town. (Our resort is a pricy $40 cab ride from Cancun.)

Another plus: families get a well-appointed condo with a brand-new kitchen (that they’ll stock for you) where everyone can gather and spread out. Some have decks with their own hot tubs where the chefs will cook a private BBQ. The ferry to Cozumel is nearby, as are the famous Mayan ruins of Tulum and Coba. (Visit www.rivieramaya.com for information on the area attractions.)

And though there is a kids’ club with its own baby pool, the emphasis here will be on family togetherness, says general manager Enrico Lindenhaln, himself the father of a toddler. “We want to get back to the old-style family vacations where they come to spend time together, not drop the kids off all day,” he explains.

That seems to be the mantra at the other two resorts as well. Kids of all ages are with their families on the beach and around the pool splashing, building sand forts and slurping frothy drinks.

Allie Falender, who is from Houston and is here with a large family group, was thrilled that everything she needed for her 10 month old — crib, baby bath tub, bottle sterilizer — was waiting in her room — all part of a resort partnership with Fisher-Price. You can also borrow the latest toys and have them delivered to your room. “It’s nice not to have to organize anything, that it’s all here,” said Falender.

Of course, when parents need a break — and kids a time out from the sun — the kids’ clubs — are available and impressive. At the Karisma Sensatori where we were staying, there’s a room just for doll play, and it includes a theater. In the arts and crafts room, a group of little girls decorates door hangers, while at the next table boys stack wooden pieces for a game of Jenga.

Still, this new resort — open less than two months when we visited over the holidays — is experiencing “teething pains,” guests say. There were doors that wouldn’t open or lock and room and restaurant snafus. Resort officials promise they’ve been working hard to fix the glitches. It’s frustrating, of course, but wherever you go, you can’t let minor problems (like the blinds that kept breaking in our room) ruin a good time.

Especially at such a beautiful place. Oversized family rooms have a sliding door so that parents and kids get their own space; our room had a canopy bed. Every hour, the beach butlers come by at the pool offering a fruit kabob, a glass of juice, a cold towel or a sandwich in a cooler. And instead of large buffets, typical at all-inclusive resorts, there are six different restaurants here. Do we want Tapas, Mexican or Bistro fare? Mid-afternoon, we mosey over to the “taco stand” for fresh tortillas filled with meat and chicken.

Behind our poolside cabana (yes, I had to get out at 7 a.m. to snare one), the two Mullen kids jump from the pool to the Jacuzzi that comes right up to the patio of their room. “It’s brilliant,” says their mom Marci Mullen, who is glad for the stress-free respite from the Canadian winter.

A few beach beds away, Suzy Clode has just arrived with her husband and three kids from London. If they hadn’t paid for the trip last spring, she said, they might not have come because of the economy

“But I’m glad we did,” Clode said. “This might be the last big family holiday for a while.”

And absolutely one for the memory books.

Azul Sensatori, a Karisma hotel, boasts awe-inspiring ocean views.  Couples and families staying at Azul Sensatori Hotel on Bahia Petempich savor a Gourmet Inclusive experience, a vacation that fosters togetherness and offers luxurious all-Jacuzzi suites, signature swim-up suites, state of the art spa and Sky Weddings.

Contact Sunsational Vacations, a GI Vacation Consultant for Karisma Hotels, to book your stay at an Azul resort.

Horror stories about online booking send customers back to travel agents

Published in the Times Colonist on September 27, 2008

We have been hearing more stories than usual about the frustrations of online travel engines’ customers lately.

In addition to horror stories we have read about, two people we know faced dropped bookings when they arrived at the airport.

One had booked a flight and the other a whole vacation package and both were told that there was no record of payment (even with a confirmation number) and they would have to pay for their trips again. So we were not especially surprised when we saw the report by eMarketer (they sell market research and trend analysis about Internet commerce) about the decline in the number of people booking online and the increase of people booking through travel agents.

An indication of how fed up people are with online booking engines is websites that will refer you to a vetted travel agent who can then help you book your trip.  Zicasso.com and Tripology both have generated good PR by taking business away from the online booking engines.

Their service is a cross between booking online and having a qualified travel agent help you.  After you fill out a form with the details of your trip, you receive a no-obligation quote in a short time. Booking through a travel agent is some of the best insurance you can buy. When problems arise, you have someone to call. You can go and have a coffee while they sort out the problem. If they can’t fix it right then, you’ll at least know that when you return from your holiday, your travel agent will probably have fixed the snafu.

 

Sunsational Vacations is a member of the Advisory Panel for Tripology.com.

Where to Avoid Drunkfests and Rowdy College Crowds

You’ve worked much too hard to have your spring break ruined by a bunch of kids who aren’t your own. The thousands of spring breakers and their teen dramas, drunkfests and wet t-shirt contests fly south for the winter right when you are getting sick of the sleet and snow. But from early March to mid-April, just steer clear of go-to Spring Break spots like these: South Padre Island; Negril, Jamaica; Nassau, Bahamas; or Cancun, Mexico.

It’s not that every square inch of these deservedly popular destinations will be jammed to the gills with rowdy, insomniac, beer-guzzling and nauseated high school and college students. It’s just that you’ve likely been there, done that, and now you’ve earned the right to celebrate the rites of spring your way, the civilized way.

Adult travelers aren’t the only ones “over” Spring Break, says John Frenaye, a 15-year travel industry veteran and analyst, former retail travel agency owner and now Chief Single Dad at SingleParentTravel.net. “Look back at Fort Lauderdale, which was the place to go; the city got tired,” he points out. And even though Fort Lauderdale has cleaned up its image, we recommend an alternative Florida destination: Amelia Island, filled with quaint B&Bs and the type of low-key lifestyle in which hopping on a bike to explore the island’s 13 miles of beaches is just another day in paradise.

You can also enjoy “The Paris of the South”—Asheville, N.C., with an eclectic downtown and 30-plus art galleries all framed by the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains. Renowned accommodations include the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa and the Cottage on Biltmore Estate (that’s George Vanderbilt’s 8,000-acre place and site of America’s largest home). Richmond Hill Inn also has an elegant, B&B-inspired ambience. March’s variable weather could bring either snow tubing downhill or rafting on the French Broad River.

On the other coast, or about 99 miles inland, is the prince of kitsch resorts: Palm Springs, Calif. It’s a haven for mature adults, yupsters and anyone else who craves golf, tennis and swimming with a retro vibe. Sure, the main drags bustle a bit more during Spring Break, but in a matter of seconds you’re in the slower-paced streets that back up to the towering San Jacinto Mountains. Vintage modernism and a George Jetson vibe predominate at the Orbit In Hotel, while the Korakia Pensione welcomes you with Mediterranean and Moroccan-flavored villas, plus two sexy swimming pools.

Spring Break, Frenaye says, can overburden cities with additional security and police wages, heavy impact on the judicial system, inconvenience to residents and businesses, not to mention damage control to the destination’s image. For hotels, there’s a nasty mess to clean up, plus higher insurance rates. “People begin to ask: Is this good business or bad business?” To safeguard yourself against a hotel packed with spring breakers, ask how many guests, maximum, are allowed per room and whether any groups are expected during your stay. And in hard times like these, a savvy travel agent will know exactly which tour operators cater to budget-conscious, grown-up spring breakers.

To be super safe, suggests Frenaye, consider “adults-only” resorts in Mexico such as Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita Resort and Thalasso on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. If you want to skip that area altogether, head across the country to Zihuatanejo, home to gorgeous resorts like The Tides, Casa Que Canta and Capella Ixtapa.

We’ve assembled our own righteous list of diverse places where you can bravely stake out your pristine plot of sand without dodging flying Bud suds. Instead, order a tart Appletini or sparkling flute of Dom and be blissfully at one with spring—on your terms. You can do Mexico, the Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii,  even the San Diego stretch of southern California.  And don’t forget that Spring Break can be an ideal time to head for still-snowy climes, especially our choice of Park City, Utah. Some hotels are smaller, but big on ambience and savoir-faire; others are large, with options guaranteed to keep the restive guest away from an iPhone.