Murray On Travel

Celebrate Life at the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral in Cancun Mexico

Now for any vacation to be truly enjoyable, you will have to make good lodging arrangements. You can’t do better than if you book at Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Hotel. It takes the vibrant elements that the city is known for and combines it with a chic style and attention to comfort. All of the modern provisions you require are provided here, plus more.

If you are all about celebrating life, why not fly in for an extended fiesta in Mexico? This South American country is famous for its lively character, warm people, and great food. Perhaps one of the best places you can visit there is the city of Cancun. It may have been a simple fisherman’s island in the past, but it has since developed into an ideal destination for tourists, as aside from being home to excellent diving spots, it also has a dynamic city life that can be considered a celebration in itself.

The Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Resort definitely pulls out all the stops when it comes to providing maximum comfort and luxury. There are several types of suites to choose from, each with their own distinct features. For instance, you can start with the Junior Suite Ocean View King, which has its own living room and is elegantly and tastefully designed.

However, if you wish to step things up and pamper yourself with a complete relaxation experience, you can go for the Junior Suite Spa King. Not only will you enjoy exclusive amenities, you will also have unlimited access to the hotel’s spa.

The Coral Suite, Governor Suite, and Presidential Suite are also fantastic choices, especially if you are planning a very special getaway. No matter which suite you choose, though, you are ensured of a restful sleep on luxurious mattresses fitted with the finest Egyptian cotton. All of the basic equipment are present, such as a phone, hair dryer, iron, and coffee machine. If you look more closely, though, you will appreciate how everything in the room is the best of its kind, from the kind of furniture to the lighting used.

Just as the suites are completely and luxuriously furnished, so do the dining choices leave nothing to be desired. If you want to have a casual snack or some coffee, you can choose between the Coral Café or Gem Spa Café. Each of these has its own distinct offerings to give more variety to the food and drink choices.

There are also several restaurants that offer full service for lunch and dinner. You just have to decide on whether you prefer to have something Continental, French, Mexican, or a little of everything. You can also have a refreshing drink by the pool or by the beach. You are on vacation, after all!

Even if you do not take the spa suites, you can still enjoy complete relaxation by choosing from the many services offered at the hotel’s very own spa. Aside from the usual massage services, you can also benefit greatly from hydrotherapy and gem therapy. Wake up your tired skin with a facial, or release accumulated toxins in the steam room. If you are vacationing with your partner or with friends, you can choose to have your treatments together if you wish. Give yourselves the treat you deserve!

With its wonderful location and well-appointed accommodations and amenities, the Fiesta Americana is certainly the ideal venue for the beach wedding you have been dreaming of. First of all, you have access to a beautiful private beach for a truly picturesque ceremony. Your guests will also enjoy the sumptuous feast during your reception.

More importantly, though, you need not get yourself stressed out about these things because you only have to discuss your wishes with the wedding planners from Tropical Wedding Experts to make sure that everything goes smoothly.  Visit resorts website.

On the other hand, if you would like to motivate your employees, whether you are having a seminar, a business meeting, or a team building activity, bringing them to Fiesta Americana is a great way of doing it. You can bring in as many as 1,700 people and may choose to use the Grand Ballroom, the indoor meeting area, or the Breakout Rooms, depending on your purposes. All of the necessary audio-visual equipment for your presentations can be provided and WiFi is readily available. If you need some help with organizing your events, Fiesta Americana’s team will be more than capable of providing it.

If you have children, you need not worry about them getting bored or feeling left out, despite all the fun the grown-ups are having. Fiesta Americana’s Fiesta Kids Clubs are there to come to the rescue. Various activities are in store, from water games to art sessions. There is simply no time for boredom!

Going on vacation is all about letting go of the drudgery of your daily routine and reviving both your body and spirit. What better place to do it in sunny Cancun than at the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Resort? Photos provided by resort.

Barcelo Costa of Cancun, Mexico - A Hotel That Exceeds Expectations

Cancun in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico is a paradise on earth, with its white sand beaches, warm crystal clear Caribbean sea, and year-round mild climate. It is the prime vacation getaway for millions of people who want to get away from the stress of city living. In this top tourist destination, the four-star beachfront Barceló Costa Cancún hotel remains a favorite.

Also known as Gran Costa Real and Costa Real Cancun, Barceló Costa is overlooking the aptly-named Playa Linda (“pretty beach”), where the Hotel Zone begins—the center of tourist activities with rows of high-end resorts, restaurants, and nightclubs in the area.

Guests frequently commented on the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff of Barceló Costa, and how they knew how to treat their customers. Visitors have said that the hotel staff alone made their vacations memorable. They were energetic and enthusiastic, especially in arranging onsite activities from giving introductory diving and Spanish lessons, to scheduling beach volleyball and nightclub tours. Resorts Website

However, Barceló Costa’s human resources is not only its asset; its biggest draws include its location (just 20 minutes from the airport, and in the center of the complex), and being all-inclusive; guests liked being served drinks all day long as they lounged around in the huge outdoor pool surrounded by a tropical garden.

The hotel has a number of facilities for the discerning guests. Aside from the adult pool, it has one for children as well, and a steam room and sauna. For those who just want to laze around, there is a wide expanse of white sandy beach in front of the building and palm shelters with towels and deckchairs.

Fitness conscious guests can take advantage of the hotel’s fully-equipped and air-conditioned gym, as well as a spa which offers beauty services like facial and body treatments.

Barceló Costa offers a 24-hour room service, and guests who want to enjoy Cancun’s sights and attractions can request the hotel’s assistance in booking tours. For those with children, a babysitter can be provided as well.

Barcelo Costa has 318 guestrooms complete with amenities like the mini-bar, television and DVD player, refrigerator, and coffee maker. Every bathroom has a telephone and hair dryer too. According to guests who left reviews of their stay in the hotel, they loved the marble countertops in the washrooms, the wooden room doors, and the white floor tiles of the rooms, halls, and the lobby.
For those who are in Cancun for a business meeting, there is a conference hall available that can accommodate up to 170 people.

Cancun is indeed a tourist’s paradise, from its beautiful beaches, water sports, archaeological sites, and adventure tours. Staying at the Barceló Costa can ensure that nothing mars this vacation of a lifetime.  Photos provided by the property.

 

Four Day Mexican Cruise on Carnival Paradise

Southern California is a great place to live, but sometimes you just have to get out of town. With my busy lifestyle a week or more would cause me to miss too much of my oversaturated and hurried existence. How about a compromise... A 5 day cruise on the Carnival Paradise cruise ship departing out of Long Beach stopping at Catalina Island and Ensenada Mexico. At first I thought that climbing onto a Carnival Fun ship with 2000 other passengers wouldn't provide much relief from crowded Los Angeles, but I was wrong.

After the porters helped us with the luggage, we entered the large cruise terminal in Long Beach which was once the home of the Spruce Goose. Now, it's a well run terminal for checking in of Carnival Cruise Line passengers. The process was smooth; took about 40 minutes from curb to ship.

As returning Carnival cruisers, our room key/charge card was gold in color. First time cruisers key cards are blue. I wasn't aware of any special perks or attention from having the 'gold card'. I did notice a special check in area for Platinum Guests, Carnival Concierge Club and Carnival Vacation Club members. Cabin U78 was a pleasant surprise-roomy with plenty of storage for an inside $169 cabin. The bathroom had a basket full of amenities which were promotional items from Proctor and Gamble and BIC. For example, we had five flavors of tooth paste, 2 packets of razors and shampoo/conditioner. What was missing was body lotion. And that's what I needed the most, bring your own lotion. I didn't even miss not having a window. We were never in the cabin very much.

Ports of call on this 4 day Carnival cruise included Catalina Island on Tuesday and Ensenada, Mexico on Wednesday, Thursday would be a day at sea. Before the ship departed we attended the Ports of Call presentation in the main show room and found it to be valuable. The cruise director explained the excursions and a shopping specialist gave a short presentation. We had already reviewed all the excursions before the trip on the web site so the presentation just reinforced what we already knew. The cruise director does not allow time for questions and directs everyone to the excursion desk. And, if you miss the presentation, it's replayed on the cabin TV. My questions were answered at the excursion desk --I was looking for an air-conditioned motor coach tour in Ensenada.

Tuesday we arrived at Catalina Island and Avalon Harbor. We decided to stay onboard the Paradise and enjoy the sun and fun on this Carnival "fun ship" Cruise Ship. As a Southern California girl Catalina Island was no big deal, I was married at the Inn At Mt Ada overlooking the harbor and know the island well. We found a nice spot at the front of the Paradise near the putt-putt golf course, got comfortable in a lounge chair and let the day slip away as we watched tender boats ferry passengers back and forth.

On Wednesday the Paradise docked in Ensenada Mexico. Off we went first thing in the morning, we easily found our bus and our tour director, a lovely woman with perfect English and Spanish. She grew up in Ensenada and was eager to share her knowledge with us. We toured a historic building call the Civic Center and had time to shop in the courtyard too. I found a purse I liked and after getting a price from the vendor, I asked our tour director what would be a fair price. She said $20. I went back to the vendor to offer $20, half of what she was asking for and she would only come down to $30 so I bought it for $30. Later that day, I perused the shopping area at the ships port and found the exact same purse for $20. I then realized that I should have trusted our lovely Carnival Cruise tour director and realized that the prices at the port were good deals. Rather than haggling with the tourists, the vendors at the port offered % off discounts, a more Americanized way of shopping.

Usually, ships offer only two dinning room time options, early and late seating. We learned of Carnivals 'Your Time Dining' on the web site before and selected it. We decided to eat later, but to avoid the crowds of the second seating, we went to dinner about half an hour before their assigned time. Never having to wait more than a few minutes for a table for two was a pleasant surprise. On one occasion, we were given a beeper. The library, next door to the Elation dining room, with its Cunard memorabilia, kept us occupied for the 15 minute wait.

Of all the dining room meal selections, my favorites are the soups. I enjoyed many unique ones like strawberry soup and chilled avocado. A tip for the first time cruiser is that you can order anything on the menu, two steaks, two deserts, they will bring it. One meal we asked for an extra entréeâ€"of lobster! It was wonderful!

The dining room served breakfast every morning and we only made it to one service. The only lunch options were buffets or the 24 hour pizza bar. It was disappointing to learn that we could not dine in the dining room for lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday, which left us with the two buffets on the ship to choose from. I found the buffets to be messy; dirty tables and sticky serving utensils. There was a deli area where the chef made sandwiches to order which was a great alternative. And, we enjoyed the pizza; when it was hot out of the oven. I was looking forward to the "free" sushi from 5 pm to 8 pm every night but was disappointed. At about 7:30 pm the self-serve wasabi and ginger looked messy so I was turned off and didn't bother trying the sushi.

Air conditioning was prevalent in all public spaces on the Paradise. I could have used a heavier sweater during the evening show room events. During the first 3 days of the cruise, we were surprised to see that the public spaces were so void of people. I kept wondering, where is everybody? The disco was sparse at 10 pm and the casino was moderately full. As the cruise continued, I learned that the karaoke in the Queen Mary lounge was a popular after dinner/show destination. The entertainment in the show room definitely met expectations. The Carnival Paradise Singers and Dancers performed two major productions, Extreme Country and Shout. And we were entertained by two comedians that keep me laughing out loud. The comedians offered "R" rated shows in the lounges later on each night.

Burning some calories in the gym is good decision on a cruise and the work out area met expectations. The cardio equipment overlooks the ocean and there was an area to stretch and lift light weights. We signed up for a Pilates class for an extra $10. The class was not full, in fact, we had just two people. It's was like having a private class with a trainer. You have to walk through the men's and women's spa to get to the gym. The spa offered some excellent deals as the cruise went on. For example, on day 3 at the port of Ensenada from 8 am to 12 noon, one can get a full body massage, boosting facial, soothing scalp, foot and ankle massage and eye collagen treatment, 75 minutes for $109. That seemed like a good deal-however, I'm not sure how many cruisers were booking spa appointments because the staff was very aggressive pushing services at the pool by handing out flyers. It became a bit of a pain.

I loved the slide on the ship. It is the "fun ship" after all. For the first three days, there was no line - just climb the stairs and take the plunge. This was the social area of the ship with music playing and cocktails being served. For a quiet, peaceful alternative, we found some private lounge chairs with a forward view. There were about 12 lounges in a shared area with the putt putt golf and joggers track. The other option in the adult pool which I found crowded, although they had cushions on the lounges.

I spent most of the Thursday "at sea" day at the main pool. Here and playing in the ping pong tournament, eating ice cream, playing video poker, and then dancing the night away after a little karaoke.

After 4 nights on the Carnival Paradise Fun Ship, I was refreshed and absolutely had a great time. There were many first time cruisers on the ship. I met a nice gal on the Ensenada excursion --traveling alone, who was a first time cruiser. She was getting her feet wet for her next cruise, Alaska. By testing out this inexpensive 4 night cruise, she could make a decision on whether or not to book a more expensive longer cruise. We kept running in to her on the ship and she reported that she had a good time and was impressed by most of the offerings on the ship. She was ready to book Alaska, but would travel with a friend to reduce the costs. A single pays the same a double.