Here we go again, Mexico in the news, and it’s not looking good. As many of you know, I *love* Mexico, its flavors, cultures and peoples. In fact, my family and I just returned from a 9-day vacation in Playa.

Click here for picture: Sandcastles on Playa del Carmen beaches

And I will be traveling there again twice in the next two months, once to Guadalajara in October, then a month later back to Cancun & Playa. I’m not worried.  

From my fellow travel journalist, Jimm Budd, who is commenting on Mexico’s position on “swine flu” and tourism:

“Mexico is bracing for a possible return this winter of Swine Flu, known to the politically correct as an illness caused by the H1N1 virus. Last May the fear of an epidemic devastated the tourism industry, temporarily closing many hotels and leading to the cancellation of visits by cruise ships to Mexican ports.  

“Vaccinations now are available, which should lessen the impact. In addition, Mexico has requested a 400 million dollar loan from the World Bank to improve epidemiology surveillance and insure vaccines are available for everybody.”

Here’s a few links about the spring “epidemic” and its impact:

Mexico puts out the sanitized welcome mat

Mexico vacationers safe, smiling and return to Mexico, despite H1N1 virus threats

Swine flu brings grim outlook to Mexico tourism

And an article about my recent family/friend trip to Playa’s Barcelo Maya Palace:
Riviera Maya makes entire families happy – and it was a wonderful vacation for all 23 of us, ages 2 to 62.

thanks for reading, until next time:

Diana

$25 per person/$40 per couple (100% donated to Hope House) **Feeling Lucky??? DRAW AGAIN $5.00 each additional Card (Unlimited)****Prizes for both winning and losing hands of poker – and one random hand. POKER RUN SCHEDULE

 1ST STOP:In The Zone Sports Bar, 44th & McIntyre, Golden, CO (303-279-3888) 1st bike out 10:00/last bike out 10:15 2ND STOP:           Outlaw Saloon, 160 E. Main St, Lyons (303-823-8201)1st bike out 12:15/last bike out 12:30 3RD STOP: Windjammer Bar & Grill, 3431 North Carter Lake Road, Loveland,1st bike out 1:30/last bike out 1:45 (**longest ride)                        (970-667-0454) 4TH STOP: Jerry D’s, 6048 State Highway 52, Dacono (303-833-3469)1st bike out 2:30/last bike out 2:45 

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***Return to In The Zone Sports Bar Patio for Raffles (2 for $1/15 for $5), 50/50, Beer, Food & Live Music by Brethren Fast. 

This spring 2009, I re-visited the Moon Palace Resort in Cancun, Mexico. Admittedly, I was always surprised how much travelers loved this resort since my first visit years ago was less than pleasant. However, my second visit to the Moon Palace was nothing short of wonderful. Great golf, great service, beautiful property with oversized and comfy rooms.

EXCERPT OF review of the Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort:  The 2,457-room Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort is framed by 2,000 feet of white sand beaches and 123 acres of jungle, just minutes from the Cancun airport. Its close proximity to the action combined with its tranquility makes the all-inclusive Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort a frequent vacation choice for travelers of all ages. The Moon Palace offers two large, beachfront lagoon-style pools, four swim-up bars, two kids’ pools, one Golf Club pool, six Jacuzzis, 13 international restaurants, nightly entertainment at 11 bars and lounges, fully equipped fitness center, private Kids’ Club and plenty of water sports activities. Click here for picture of the fabulous pool at Moon Palace: Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort

Read the entire review at: http://www.travels.com/destinations/mexico/moon-palace-resort-cancun-mexico/

Good morning! I am currently writing travel reviews for www.Travels.com. I’d like to share the first one with you: Pan Pacific Vancouver, a trip and hotel I blogged about twice back in April.

Read the full review here:

Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel REVIEW: Click here for a picture of the Pan Pacific Vancouver

Harbour View suites Pan Pacific Vancouver (Photo by Diana Rowe)The 23-story Pan Pacific Vancouver is a popular, landmark, downtown waterfront hotel. This luxury hotel consistently earns a five-diamond rating from the American Automobile Association. All 503 luxurious guest rooms (including 39 suites) offer amazing views of the Coastal Mountains, Coal Harbour and/or the Vancouver city skyline. Connected to the Vancouver Convention Centre & Exhibition Centre, the hotel shares its prestigious Canada Place complex address with CN IMAX theatre, the World Trade Centre office complex and Vancouver’s Cruise Ship Terminal. Guests also have convenient access to Stanley Park, shopping, theatres and the financial district.

For 8 days in June, I had the amazing experience of sharing a vacation with 23 family members and friends. Years ago, I fell in love with friendly and welcoming Mexico — and its equally warm people, so it was the only place I considered taking my family. The Barcelo Resorts in the Riviera Maya is one of my favorite all-inclusive resorts. Read on for excerpts from an article in Travelers Anonymous on my Riviera Maya family/friends vacation.

 

Mexico  Riviera Maya Makes Entire Families Happy

 With two dozen travelers between the ages of 2 and 62, finding a destination that offered everything to every age was important, and that’s why, for our family vacation, we looked south of the border to Mexico’s (http://www.visitmexico.com) Riviera Maya. Sure, it’s is a destination of beaches, but the Riviera Maya offers something for everyone from championship golf to culture to the unabashed luxury of lounging in the sun or splashing in the kid’s pool.

For travelers looking for a deal, Mexico’s Riviera Maya, located in the country’s easternmost state of Quintana Roo, has never looked better. It offers an unmatched combination of proximity, value, comfort, climate, exotic setting and hospitality. With the strain of the economy, it doesn’t hurt to add the strength of the U.S. dollar against the Mexican peso.  Click here to read the rest of the article at TravelersAnonymous.com:

Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time, Diana