Are you afraid to travel right now with all of the hype about the N1H1 flu virus? We here at tropicaltravel.net would like to give you the facts and not the hype! The reality is that we, as Americans are more scared of a possible scenario and not about what is actually happening. There have been about 247 cases of the H1N1 flu documented in the states, and sadly one death. This is compared to the 35,000 documented deaths annually attributed to the common “winter flu”. The virus is primarily dangerous to small children and older adults that have comprised or developing immune systems. While healthy adults can indeed get sick from this virus it is nothing that cannot be avoided with some basic health precautions that we all learned in kindergarten. The CDC recommends us to take these steps to stop the spread of N1H1:

-Wash your hands often with soap and water.  This removes germs from your skin and helps prevent diseases from spreading.
-Use waterless alcohol-based hand gels (containing at least 60% alcohol) when soap is not available and hands are not visibly dirty.
-Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and put your used tissue in a wastebasket.
-If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
-Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing, using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner (with at least 60% alcohol) when soap and water are not available.
-Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread that way.
-Try to avoid close contact with sick people (within 6 feet). Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
-It is important to follow the advice of local health and government authorities.  You may be asked to restrict your movement and stay in your home or hotel to contain the spread of H1N1 flu (swine flu).
-Wear a surgical mask when in contact with other people.

The CDC has also asked, on the 30th of April, that for the time being people would limit their travels to Mexico to the necessary trips. Mexican authorities have already stated the virus has peaked in their countries and that the virus is on the decline. While U.S. authorities are still skeptical of this fact they have said that they have seen no signs of this virus being any more serious than the common “winter flu” that we see every year.

Stop falling victim to the panicking hype of the television new and get the facts for yourself!

Don’t believe us? Here are our sources!
http://www.argusleader.com/article/20090504/UPDATES/90504011/Flu+cases+leveling+off++too+early+to+say+it+s+under+control
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentSwineFlu.aspx
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentSwineFluMexico.aspx
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentSwineFluUS.aspx
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148594.php

School update! 5/5/09

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090505/ap_on_he_me/us_med_swine_flu_schools 

Don’t be afraid to travel, book your trip with us at http://www.tropicaltravel.net

The RIU Palace Pacifico in Riviera Nayarit has been called the Giant Wedding Cake of resorts. Not for its high rate of marriages that take place there, if they do, but because of its unique decore. The RIU Palace Pacifico is all about making its guest feel as comfortable as possible, using the unique and modern decorations, the friendly service, and the quiet atmosphere. This specific resort is a little higher end because they are targeting a very unique genre of guests; people who want that special quiet and private enviroment and who are willing to pay a little extra to get it. This RIU has 445 jr. suites availible and is located directly on the Flamingos Beach, providing it with that exotic, adventurous feel that a person can readily enjoy with relaxing on the beach sipping on the All-Inclusive beverages offered by this resort. Some of the great activities to be found at the Palace Pacifico could be the gym, jacuzzis, steam rooms, spas, and even a unique cold-stone massage. The area around the resort offers many areas to be explored and experienced, whether your pleasure is art, surfing, or just dancing and relaxing.

The RIU Palace Pacifico is a great place to go and experience this particular area of the world (Riviera Nayarit) but if you would like to try somewhere else, it might be worth it to check into the RIU hotels website for more locations! RIU has many different hotels in many different locations, including Playa del Carmen, Mazatlan, and there is talk of a new RIU resort being build in Huatulco! These resorts are all top notch and are kept up with about $45 million in repairs each year! Visit TropicalTravel.net to book your vacation today!

In Riviera Maya and Cancun there have been countless, All-Inclusive resorts built on the beach front. Most of them built as close to the beach as the government allowed and then connected to the road with private drive-ways and made into beautiful beach hotels and resorts. But the only downside to all of these beautiful, All-Inclusive resorts being constructed is that the ecosystems in the Riviera Maya have been destroyed and polluted. For instance, there is a plant called the mangrove that grows on the coastlines of most tropical locations that help protect the coasts from erosion, surge storms, and tsunamis and they do this through their root systems that work to dissipate wave energy. This plant has largely been removed from the areas that the resorts have been built to make room for pools, hotels, and driveways.

But as always there is an exception to this enviromental incident caused by all of the construction and tourism. The Mayakoba Resort and the Tres Rios Hotel have been constructed without destrying the enviroment, and have actually been built in such a way that they have helped encourage the aquatic ecosystems found in the Riviera Maya! For instance, instead of removing all of the mangroves and underground rivers that are so vitally important to the ecosystem, the Mayakoba resort has simply uncovered some of these underground rivers and has used them as the center piece of the resort creating an atmosphere of being in the jungle instead of being on the beach. But never fear! The beach is still only a few minutes away, and is actually connected to the resort via the new uncovered river systems.

But in addition to the Mayakoba the Tres Rios hotel has also implemented a new, green design that was created to not only preserve but utilize the natural ecosystem of the Mexican beaches. The Tres Rios has been built on more than 400 piles of permeable rock so that the hotel has about 3 yards of clearance between the ground/lagoon and the hotel floor. This was done so that the rivers and plant life could live on without being disturbed. Both of these hotels have actually seen an increase in animal life since being built because of the aquatic ecosystems that have been created. These hotels also utilize multiple systems of using green energy and not letting things go to waste. For instance they sort all of the garbage before it is recycled and their water comes from the ocean and is distilled in a processing machine instead of using the ground wells and depleting resources.

For more information on booking a trip to the Riviera Maya or either of these hotels please contact us at tropicaltravel.net!

Loma del Mar is found in Ixtapa, Mexico and was opened for the first time in September of 2008. Rather than calling it a hotel with rooms, the owner Victor Alakrazi has called his establishment a spa with rooms. The Loma del Mar has the only outdoor Thalasso (which means sea-water in the Greek language) spa in the world and is the largest of its kind in North America. The pools at this resort are actually filled with carefully monitored and maintained sea-water that has been transported from the ocean. The reason for this is because the human body has very similar qualities to sea water when it comes to the vitamin and mineral composition.

The Loma del Mar has 16 suites on a resort that is about 2 1/2 acres in total. When it comes to the spa treatment itself though the Loma del Mar has a very specific program that is designed and modified to meet each guests needs. The medical professionals will first analyze and test each guest to ensure that they receive the maximum benefits from the treatment, and they even will go so far as to offer a specialized meal plan for each guest. But do not let the program fool you, everything is designed for the rejuvenation, detoxification, and de-stressing of the body. In addition to all of these things, the Loma del Mar is located near an 18 hole golf course, the multiple, exotic beaches, and if one looked hard enough they could find a variety of instructors for a fun filled day of snorkeling, scuba diving, or jet skiing. 

For more information on how to visit the Loma del Mar visit tropicaltravel.net!

 The Royal Hideaway Playacar in Playa del Carmen, Mexico is a 5-star rated hotel; and has only 200 rooms, on 13 acres, and is 77% occupied year-around. There are 11 colonial-style villas, each with its own concierge. Each villa has 14 to 20 rooms on two or three levels. There are walking paths following a meandering stream throughout the whole property. Concierges can arrange anything a guest wants, from spa treatments, to dinner reservations, airport transfers, off-site tours, dry cleaning, packing and unpacking services, and more. There is a staff of 400 with a ratio of 2.2 staff to each guest room.

 Activities offered at no extra cost are: non-motorized water sports, which includes kayaks and catamarans; an introductory scuba class in the main pool, bike rentals, tennis courts, cooking classes, Spanish language lessons, dance lessons, a fitness center, live entertainment (including trivia contests). There is a library on-site also (which includes DVD rentals). Each room has a DVD player.

Dining options include six different restaurants, ranging from traditional a la carte cuisine, to the exquisite Las Ventanas restaurant.

This is an Adults Only resort — no one below the age of 13 is allowed. If you want gorgeous seaside views, a variety of activities, great food, and no large crowds, consider the Royal Hideaway.
 

Cancuns fine dinning experience is quickly becoming known as the upscale restaurants are making a name for themselves. There are arrays of four and Five-Diamond restaurants located in Cancun. Incidentally, what was once a secret stop for great meals and dinning experiences is becoming a must stop for vacationers everywhere.

With superstar chefs holding down kitchens up and down Cancun it is hard to go wrong when out for the fine dinning experience. Open kitchens showing industrial type designs are matched with exquisite menus that boast delicacies cooked by the worlds greatest chefs. Minimalist decors in other restaurants are complemented by sleek artistic choices like, rice-encrusted sushi or Mediterranean food under a hand-painted ceiling at a, jazz supper club.

If you like to create food as much as consume there are cooking classes being given by executive chefs at the Ritz-Carltons Culinary Center. A typical two-hour class will show you: margarita preparation with a quick tasting. After that is off to slicing, dicing, and grilling. Finally, grilling meat, creating authentic guacamole and pico de gallo and getting your own recipes to take home.

To round out the culinary experience in Cancun is the wine. Mexican wines run abundant throughout the region and there are also 300 different brands from around the world ready to be tasted before, during, and after a great meal at one of these fantastic restaurants. For more information regarding Cancun contact tropicaltravel.net

It is hard to find a more diverse and pleasing getaway than the Riviera Maya. It is a tenured vacation hot spot that has all the amenities to please the needs of the most diverse line of travelers.

The white-sand beaches and the stunningly blue sea create the perfect backdrop for this oasis. The ancient Mayan culture can be seen as far down as a snorkel dive at the largest barrier coral reef in the northern hemisphere or as plainly as through a one of a kind Mayan massage at one of the many spas. The PGA tour course is open to the public and a great way to spend a day in the sand like the Pros!

If you are at the Riviera Maya for romance, family vacationing, or just traveling with friends you will not be disappointed. Archeological ruins and ancient Mayan temples are beautiful day hikes. Zip-lines are a great way to wiz past the jungle. All day jungle tours are safe and exciting as well. There are many aquariums and eco-adventure spots at the Riviera Maya where one of a kind under ground rivers flow for a swimmers delight.

The Mexico Night Show is something that is full of entertainment for all types of vacationers. During the day Mexican culture is booming with the Tequila Expo, mariachis, music, crafts, and the infamous competition to build the, Worlds largest margarita. October 15-19 is when the Riviera Maya Underground Film Festival is held, which showcases filmmakers from all over the world. October 30 to November 2 is the celebration of, Day of the Dead and All Saints Day. At these events you will see authentic Mexican culture and customs on display. And in November is a premiere jazz festival that will not disappoint.

Since the 1930s Acapulco has been known for its seaside tourism. It has been traditional and simple until now. Acapulco is redefining its vacation experience with the birth of a collection of new luxury high-rise hotels, restaurants, discos, nightclubs, and spas.

Mundo Imperial, a gigantic creation that rivals a city in size and excess is being built right now with a neighboring expo center, theater, concert hall, and a mall called, La Isla. The High Tec look of the new architecture will be matched by the feng shui and technology inside of the hotels. The first hotel open in November boasting 334 guestrooms, a holistic spa featuring Chinese medicine, iPod docs and voice-over Internet phone systems. Along side these hotels will be top of the line restaurants with choices like North African-Mediterranean cuisine or a seafood stop that allows the customer to choose his or her own meal from an aquarium.

With the new hotels being built old regulars of the ocean-side city are making multimillion-dollar renovations which will also add a new flair to the now high-end feel of Acapulco. Las Brisas, Camino Real, Quinta Real, Hyatt, and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts are beginning renovations to match the new wave of competition.

It is estimated that over 3,000 new hotel rooms will be up and running within a year. This number will go on top of an already impressive 18,000 in business right now. Acapulco is sure to get back its business that was lost in the last ten years to vacation hot spots like Los Cabos, Huatulco, and Cancun. Acapulco also adds the flair of tradition. The city sprung up in the 1500s as a trading port and still holds its old town charm and mystique. The museums and old architecture are reason enough to visit. The nightlife is also beginning to flourish with 3,000 person capacity clubs that give off that ever-enchanting Vegas feel. Within this next year Acapulco will be a redefined resort.

The Hippodrome Hotel is the invention of Tom Shortt, who boasts that Hip is his favorite word. He wanted to take the vibe of the SoHo neighborhood right out of New York City and drop it into Mexico City what he got was something unique and yes, even Hip.

The Hippodrome is a hotel converted out of a 1930s apartment building that showcases Shortts dream and five years of hard work. The rooms are luxurious and to the point. They are minimalist in design but beautiful in selection. The guests can instantly feel at ease in Shortts creation as they relax with their own iPod station, wireless Internet, a 27inch flat screen LCD TV, and for the vacationers without cell phone reception, a cordless phone for convenience. If exercise is a must guests are free to venture only a couple blocks away where there is a full gym waiting for them. The gym includes spinning and Pilates classes, cardio machines, weight rooms, and a climbing wall.

The 16 rooms are equipped not only with Art Deco Flair but the option of penthouse sweets. This amenity adds its additional, unique, and unforgettable flair. In the penthouse you will find a Jacuzzi bathtub, which opens up into the terrace, a sun lounge, and a table for all dinning experiences. The trendy feel of the New York lifestyle is on full display as guests ride up in a vintage cage elevator and halls are lined with Pop art.

The nightlife is the perfect clash of Mexico City and New York. The restaurants turn into party bars and guests into the perfect party crowd. The Hip Kitchen Bistro loved by the locals and the vacationers is the place to be after dark. Live music, authentic Mexican cuisine, and a great vibe make it hard to get into and even harder to leave.

Mexico City is known as a city on the go. After walking the city streets you can find solace in the Hippodromes rock gardens filled with palm tries and quiet. Although the Hippodrome is up, running, and making a name for itself Shortt has not relaxed. He just bought a mansion next door to the property as is planning on refurbishing it into a private club. The best definition of this Hotel can be explained through Shortts favorite Frank Lloyd Wright quote, Give me the luxuries of life and I will gladly do without the necessities.

The Barcelo La Jolla De Mismaloya Hotel is a AAA four-diamond award winning resort that allows guests a romantic getaway, a honeymoon experience of a lifetime, and a gateway into Vallarta art and culture. The 316-suite property is bent around the stunning curves of the Mismaloya Bay. As if beauty has no bounds the recreational area of the hotel looks out to sea amidst peacefully docked boats. The four pools sit atop the bay and overlook the limitless watered horizon. Everything is at your fingertips here at the Barcelo La Jolla De Mismaloya Hotel. Water sports and family oriented activates run throughout the day in the close-knit setting of waterfalls, restaurants, and romance. The size of the resort is not overwhelming. Guests can navigate with ease through the comfortable interior of the Hotel and find peaceful solace or extravagant pleasure with the Premium Club Service, which includes: chilled wine at arrival, a complementary fruit basket and access of the hotels VIP Lounge.

A brand new spa is just nearing completion at the resort. It will include an array of treatments for the guests and a new look indoor/outdoor experience with many new water features and gardens. This resort is indeed a couples paradise. Barcelo La Jollas wedding package is hard to resist for the couples looking to say -I Do-. It is all exclusive with an ocean view, an expert wedding coordinator, a 3-hour private dinner, which includes a cake for up to 10 people and an open bar option for another 3 hours. There is a his-and-hers half-hour massage and the wedding night is spent in the presidential suite, ending beautifully with a relaxing champagne breakfast in bed. This Under the Stars option goes for only $1,400 and makes the Barcelo La Jolla one of the most romantic wedding resorts in the world.

The authentic Spanish restaurants leave nothing off limits, including the delicacy of Mexican hot chocolate in the morning next to endless buffets. For lunch you can spice it up with dishes from the Old country or Modern Italian choices. There are also excellent outdoor steakhouses and seafood grills that face the Pacific Ocean. After Dinner the night continues in the beautiful outdoor cantina where nightly entertainment will never let you down.

Outside of the resort can be just as pleasing, romantic, and comfortable as inside. The international Airport is a breeze for vacationers, as it boasts a new hassle free luggage retrieval system with a recently modernized customs area. In the city computerized interactive modules can be found on the sides of extravagant bronze sculptures creating an interesting clash of technology and tradition allowing the viewer to find out information about the city in several languages. Walking along the boardwalk you will notice the importance of art and romance to the city. Puerto Vallartas seaside has over 30 art galleries that have been around since the 1950s. Make sure to catch Art Walk a one day a week celebration of Vallarta Art when you book your romantic getaway to Barcelo La Volla de Mismaloya.