Cerveza en Mexico

May 29, 2008 on 5:00 pm | In All | 1 Comment

Beer and Mexico are practically synonymous—the light brews at least. The list of big names resonate old-world Hispania and are notorious outside their country of origin—Bohemia, Corona, Dos Equis, Modelo Especial, Negro Modelo, Pacifico, and Tecate.

Long-touted as a haven for the best beers of the world, the educated beer-connoisseur or casual drinking can correct and probably re-direct you to a more appropriate aisle.

But that does not necessarily discount Mexico from the arena of good brews.

There are a few beers with fairly recognizable names that come in a few other strains that are unfamiliar to other countries because, well, they can’t be exported.

• Corona Familiar – Comes in a quart and is stronger than normal corona, carrying a discerning taste that, in my opinion, is a little more inviting than its namesake.

• Corona Cerveca de Barril – Again, much better than regular Corona. A similar, but not too similar, taste to Corona Familiar except sold in smaller, “Mickey” bottles.

• Noche Buena – Made by Dos Equis and only shows its face around the Winter holiday season. Dark, Rich flavor that can not be exported beyond the Mexican border.

Whatever your taste—Pilsner, IPA, Stout, Lager—sampling a beer that has been freshly bottled is unlike an import; the difference is in the taste. Next time you stay in Mexico, take an afternoon to sit back and enjoy a cold one.

Dabbling in the Local Culture

May 23, 2008 on 10:01 am | In All | No Comments

When we think of culture, we thing of food, language, unique customs, and the arts. In Cancun, the latter is often depicted in bright colors and vibrant music that populated parks and street corners.

What often slips the minds of visitors to this popular Mexican city is that besides the chic Cancun luxury resorts, beaches, clubs and booze, it’s a full-functional society and economic-hub.

Equipped with a cornucopia of playhouses, theaters, and museums, living beyond Cancun’s ‘Hotel Zone’ is a fresh and unique experience.

Ballet Folklorico de Cancun

Located at the Cancun Convention Center, the Ballet Folklorico is a dinner show that features music and dance from every stretch of the country. Dinner-show guests should expect to pay around USD $48, which includes dinner, open bar, show, tax, and tip. However, you can opt for paying only USD $30 for the show and open bar, only.

Tickets are sold between 8am and 9pm at a booth at the Convention Center entrance.

El Mexicano Restaurant Folkloric Ballet & Mariachis

Located in the Costa Blanca shopping center and is a highly-recommended experience for all ages. Every performance includes live mariachi music, dancing, and a folkloric ballet. The restaurant is not to be understated, either, dishing out large, colorful plates of fresh and authentic Mexican foods.

Expect all performances to begin at 7pm and last until 11pm.

Casa De Cultura Art Center

Located at SM21 in downtown Cancun city. A hub of plays, art exhibits, and dance performances.

Museo de Antropologia e Historia

Located in the ‘Hotel Zone’ on the south side of the Centro de Convenciones. Cancun’s Museum of Anthropology and History and a large, multi-level sample of centuries of Mexico’s culture.

How America Travels to Cancun

May 22, 2008 on 3:59 pm | In All | No Comments

It’s strange, really, that despite all the downward economic trends, the hospitality industry is still strong as an ox and lively as ever. What’s especially surprising is the trend that sees vacationers gravitating toward the luxury all inclusive Cancun resorts which may or may not include Paradisus Riviera Cancun Resort and Dreams Cancun—it does.

So who’s booking the suites and penthouse lofts and soaking in the decadence that is lavish resort life? Chiefly the younger, twenty to thirty-somethings with a penchant for chic, European style and with faster, streamlined intentions.

USA Today says they’re attracted to glitz-and-glam luxe resorts, like moths to a flame because of the experience—bigger beds, bigger TVs, heightened integration of technologies such as IPods and WIFI, and, more importantly, the one-on-one, all-for-you treatment they receive over the course of their stay.

Another factor is the low percentage of children. What used to be hotspots for babies and toddlers yammering on in a nonsensical blather, have been upgraded to luxury settings that guarantee a more identifiable and older crowd.

As Boston.com reports, vacationing surrounded by children is just “not appealing.”

Some vacationers even go as far as abstaining from resorts that cater to older children. You know, the spring break crowd, populated by co-eds across the nation.

“Nothing breaks your relaxation quicker than noise,” says Philip Ghorabegian, a “busy” Los Angelan Lawyer.

Enjoying your vacation to Cancun is not a product of effort or practice, but one that comes with the territory. When you step foot on the pillowy white beaches, something inside you clicks and the big meeting in the upcoming week, or the relentless client that’s been looming of your shoulder at work, seemingly disappear. The only planning for Cancun is where you are going to stay, when you are going to stay, and for how long.

Cancun pt. 2 – Tipping

May 18, 2008 on 1:12 pm | In All | No Comments

If you’re like me, tipping anywhere outside of a restaurant setting equates to confusion. Who do you tip? And if you do tip, then how much do you tip? It’s unsurprising, then, that this dilemma is something of a world-wide epidemic. Billions of people confront a similar scenario every day.

Tipping on vacation, however, is in a completely separate realm and elevates uncertainty to a new level.

In Cancun, there is a general set of guidelines assigned to tipping that can help you redirect your focus from the logistics of tipping, back to your vacation.

Daily maid service – At any luxury Cancun resort or other Cancun accommodation, maid services are not commonly tipped. It is a nice gesture and if service was profound for the entire stretch of your vacation, then a tip of 20 to 60 pesos, depending on how many shared the room, is perfectly adequate.

Tips should be left on a pillow, or unmade bed, or in the mini-bar; otherwise it will not be taken.

Dining/Bars – 15% is the recognized rate for good service at restaurants or bars. Note: Many establishments have begun tacking on an additional 10% to the bill, so be sure to adjust accordingly.

Supermarkets – It is customary to tip the person bagging your groceries about 5 pesos, or 50 cents.

Tour guides – Because guides provide a service they should be tipped according to your satisfaction. 20 to 50 pesos should be adequate.

Anything and everything else is fair game in terms of tipping. If extraordinary service is rendered, then don’t be stingy. Fish your pockets for a few extra pesos to express your gratitude; you never know, the result of such kindness could lead to new services or suggestions that make for a more memorable stay in Cancun.

Cancun pt. 1 – Commute

May 18, 2008 on 1:10 pm | In All | No Comments

You’ve spent the last five hours in a stuffy, close-quartered cabin; what sleep you had originally planned on was whisked away by an ensemble of crying babies and plane turbulence.

When you finally arrive to Cancun, its beauty eludes you as your only priority is getting to that luxury Cancun resort and crashing into a king-sized bed.

A taxi from the airport will cost you a non-negotiable 400 pesos, or 40 USD. A perfectly safe alternative are collective taxis, or collectivos, that you share with other passengers and occasionally detours for milk runs. Getting to the airport from anywhere else, however, is dramatically reduced to a negotiable 200 pesos.

Once you’ve slept the plane flight out of your system, recouped, and are ready to explore the city, there are only a few, but widely available, means of commuting to-and-from locales.

The bus is quite possibly the cheapest and most common form of transportation in Cancun, with fares costing approximately 7 pesos, or 70 cents. Cab fare, on the other hand, will spike a bit, but at around 6 dollars, the convenience can not be overstated.

If constant movement and countless outings are on the agenda, then renting a car should not be too far out of your realm of consideration.

A word of warning: Parking is limited in the hotel zone and the police in Mexico are eager to hand out tickets for traffic violations. With seatbelt fines at 22 USD and speeding tickets at 100 USD, anything but diligent driving could result in some unexpected travel expenses.

As long as you remember to bring small change and carry a basic set of Spanish phrases with you, Traveling about Cancun should become instinctive, and something of utility, not a source of anxiety.

Golf like a Legend

May 14, 2008 on 12:51 pm | In All | No Comments

Golfing beyond the local greens is popular fare these days; teeing off with rainforest at your back, or a sun setting in to ocean, or swinging into a mounting range volcanoes. In Cancun, two new Greg Norman courses join a legendary Jack Nicklaus course to confirm what most familiar with the game already know—Mexico is a golfing Mecca.

No overstatements here as even the PGA has taken wind of this knowledge and incorporated a few pit-stops to the country on their schedule. Among the endless courses, four surface to the top and provide an experience for novice and pro alike.

El Camaleon Norman’s first Mexican course; situated 40 miles south of Cancun. To say the course is challenging is a bit deceitful as the 18 holes resemble something of a Caribbean park-ride—through jungle and swamp, along ocean, weaving in-and-our of mangroves. In fact, El Camaleon became so popular with golf-aficionados, that it was the first dip south of the border for the PGA.

Campo Tipo Ejecutivo – A brief but relaxing 9-hole at Gran Melia Cancun Golf Club. Not necessarily backed by a boldname golf legend, this course is made for the jet-setting Cancun vacationer looking to wind down the day.

Playa Mujeres Golf Club is 18 “eco-friendly” holes designed by trendster Greg Norman. The greens assume a less flamboyant tone, compared to El Camaleon, and are streamlined in design.

Pamilla Golf Club – The award-winning course that boasts a cinematic view of the Sea of Cortez at all 27 holes. The course was recently equipped with some new luxuries, however still maintains its legendary appeal and title as one of the top 100 golf courses in the world by “Great Golf Resorts of the World.”