Welcome to the \rst edition ofmy magazine Destination Insights.I hope you enjoy it and get somegreat ideas for your next vacation. Iam a certi\ed travel counsellorassociated with Travel ProfessionalsInternational and I LOVE my job.

I am very passionate about traveland I have a huge bucket list ofplaces around the world I want tosee. I go on familiarization tripswhenever I can and I amconstantly taking courses to learnas much as I can aboutdestinations, resort chains,cultures, cruises and tours.

My job doesn’t end once yourtravel arrangements are made. Iam here for you before, duringand after your trip.

Before I arrange your trip I\nd out exactly what you arelooking for. Whether it be aromantic weekend away orthe trip of a lifetime. Callme with questions aboutwhat to bring, what toexpect and what to seeand what to skip. Tohelp with thesequestions I have madetravel guides for yourdestination thatanswer many ofthese questions.

After your trip, I will call to \ndout how your time was, what youliked and if there was anything Icould have done to have madeyour trip even better. I measure mysuccess by your satisfaction.

Please let me know where youare thinking about travelling toand when. I get hundreds of emailseveryday from suppliers telling meabout specials and niche vacationsthat they are putting together. I ammore than willing to keep track ofyour wishes and send you outinformation when it comes in.

Whatever you are interested in ...there is a vacation out there thatwill encompass that. Whether it beWine and Culinary Tours, CyclingAdventures, Kayaking,Photography, World War IImemories, Beatles or Elvis fans,Nascar to Formula One, riding onan elephant or a safari in Africa,trekking the outback or hot airballooning.

It could be river cruising,cruising on tall ships, small shipsto the Galapagos or Hawaii orsteamboating on the Mississippi.

ere are women only tours,hard and soft adventure tours,literally anything and everythingyou can think of.

Hopefully my magazine willinspire you to try something newor explore something old.

For the \rst edition, I thought Iwould catch you up on theadventures that I have been on inthe past couple of years. I havebeen planning this magazine in myhead for a long time. Now that Iam working at my business fulltime, I am able to put it alltogether. Most of the photos inthis magazine are mine. I am not aprofessional photographer by anymeans, but hopefully they will giveyou an idea of the sights.

I also want to let my clients andfriends know that I reallyappreciate the con\dence that youhave shown in me over the last 6years. I look forward to arrangingyour vacations in the future. Isincerely appreciate all therecommendations that I have beenreceiving.

You can contact me anytime at661133--992266--11770077 || 886666--992266--11770077hhmmccnnaammaarraa@@ttppii..ccaaFollow my adventures at wwwwww..ffaacceebbooookk..ccoomm//ddeessttiinnaattiioonniinnssiigghhttss

Regional Office Ontario: 4 Robert Speck Parkway, 15th Floor, Mississauga L4Z 1S1Ontario TICO Registration 1576226 | 905.896.6948

Life is Short. Explore Now.Drive a convertible Ferrari in Tuscany. Run with the bulls in Pamplona. Swim with thedolphins in Kaikoura. Sink a hole in one at St. Andrews. Stay out all night in Paris.Hike through the foothills of the Himilayas. Go skinny dipping at midnight inReykjavik. Shower under a waterfall in Costa Rica. Watch the Palio from a balcony inSienna. Make love on a beach in Vietnam. Sing Karaoke on a stage in Tokyo. Tastewine from the barrel in Burgundy. Watch Tiger Woods win the Masters. Find harmonyin the Kingdom of Bhutan. Cook risotto with a Michelin-starred chef. Send a message ina bottle from Hong Kong. Follow an Aboriginal songline throughout the Outback. Ridea camel across the Sahara. Sip champagne at the Wimbledon finals. Go wild at Carnivalin Rio. Travel the footsteps of Incas in Peru.If you can imagine it, I can make it happen. Call Now!

I had the opportunity to travel toAntigua (pronounced an-TEE-gah) inDecember of 2010 with the AntiguaTourist Board and 10 other traveladvisors.

e Antiguan terrain rises gentlyfrom the water and consists of rollinghills that were cleared for sugarcane\elds.

e highest point on Antigua isMount Obama (1,319 ft/402 mhigh). It will serve as the focal pointof a new national park.

e vegetation on Antigua consistsof many different kinds of cacti, andalong the beaches, you'll \ndcoconut, tamarind and sea-grapetrees. ere are ]owering plants, often

in profusion—hibiscus, oleander,bougainvillea and the bright redpoinciana tree, also known as the]amboyant. e vegetation providescover for crested hummingbirds andthe yellow-breasted bananaquit.

English Bay from Shirley Heights

PPooppuullaattiioonn:: 84,522.LLaanngguuaaggeess:: English, often spoken witha Caribbean patois.PPrreeddoommiinnaanntt RReelliiggiioonnss:: Christian(Anglican).TTiimmee ZZoonnee:: 4 hours behindGreenwich Mean Time (-4 GMT).Daylight Saving Time is not observed.VVoollttaaggee RReeqquuiirreemmeennttss:: 110 volts insome hotels and 220 volts everywhereelse; 60 cycles.CCoouunnttrryy CCooddee:: 268

SightseeingHistorical sights and idyllic nature

spots form the islands' majorattractions, both on land and at sea.ese are spread throughout the islandand offer a taste of the ancient mixedwith modern tranquility. e majorhistoric attractions lie just outside thecity at Fort James and on the oppositetip of Antigua at the restored Nelson'sDockyard. e Frigate Bird Sanctuaryin Barbuda is also worth experiencing.

RecreationWhether you get close to Southern

stingrays or \nd off-road fun on amuddy quad adventure, you'll have lotsof options for making your trip toAntigua as fast-paced or laid-back asyou desire. You can zipline across a rainforest, or hail a helicopter for a bird's-eye view of neighboring Montserrat.

Explore secluded beaches on two orfour legs, or put your scoring strengthto the test with a game of golf ortennis.

BeachesAs you'll be told over and over,

Antigua is said to have 365 beaches,one for every day of the year. Unlessyou have that much time, you'll needto be choosy. Possibly the mostbeautiful beach is the semicircular HalfMoon Bay, east of Falmouth. (enorth end of the beach, where thewater is calmer, is the best place toswim.) Nonsuch Bay on the easternshoreline is best for collecting shells. (Ataxi ride from St. John's will cost aboutUS$25.) If it's gorgeous sunsets you'reafter, head for Runaway Beach or FortJames on the northwestern shore,about a US$10 taxi fare from St.

John's. It's usually crowded withfamilies, honeymooners and othervacationers.

e mile of beach at Dickenson Bayis also popular and crowded, largelybecause of its proximity to St. John'sand the variety of watersports available.Along Dickenson Bay, you'll also \ndHalcyon Cove and Buccaneer Cove,two very pretty beaches, both with awide variety of amenities as well asSandals Grande Anitgua. HawksbillBeach is also within close proximity toSt. John's and has the only resort withthree of its own beaches, one of whichis the only clothing-optional beach inAntigua.

Darkwood Beach on Cades Bay, alsoon the southern coast, backs up to alagoon that is a nesting area for manywild birds. ere's also a rustic beachbar. Darkwood Beach is usually quietand largely empty, except when cruiseships visit the island—it's a favoritedestination for passengers on shoreexcursions.

If an idyllic, secluded spot is whatyou are after, try Turner's Beach. Ifbeach volleyball is your game, try JollyBeach. ere is usually a game underway, and newcomers are alwayswelcome. ere is a restaurant nearbyfor refreshments after the match.

Bird WatchingOff the northeast coast of Antigua,

about 13 km east of St. John's, GreatBird Island is a breeding ground for thebeautiful Red-billed Tropicbird. Daytrips to the island for bird-watching (aswell as snorkeling) are easily arrangedin St. John's. e island is also home tothe endangered Antiguan Racer snake.

e Frigate Bird Sanctuary on

Barbuda is another great option, wherethere are hundreds of different kinds ofbirds to see in addition to theimpressive frigate.

Boating & Sailingis is a popular boating destination,

and Antigua hosts several major sailingevents annually, including SailingWeek, the Antigua Classic YachtRegatta and the RORC Caribbean600. e Antigua Yacht Club organizesinformal afternoon races duringboating season, as well as a handful ofother races with local appeal.

If you want to get out on the wateryourself, you can pick from a widevariety of daily cruises.

In terms of windsur\ng, Antigua isone of the Northern Hemisphere'sbest-kept secrets, according to PeterHart, the British windsur\ng maven.To see what he's talking about, visitJabberwock Beach, the center of thesport in Antigua.

FishingTry your hand at deep-sea \shing for

some red snapper, barracuda orking\sh on a half-day or full-day\shing trip on the Obsession. If you'refeeling competitive, cast your line atthe Antigua and Barbuda Annual SportFishing Tournament held in May.

GolfGolfers will want to try out the

island's prize courses. e highlytouted Cedar Valley Golf Club islocated about 10 km northeast of St.John's. It's a par-70 championshipcourse with views of the northerncoast. Another option is Jolly HarbourGolf & Country Club, part of the JollyHarbour Resort.

e leash law in Antigua even applies to cows! Many windmills dot the countryside Outhouse at Grand Pineapple

Scuba & Snorkelingere are a dozen dive sites off

Antigua. e 80-year-old freighterAndes lies in just 6 m of water in DeepBay, near Royal Antiguan Hotel. CadesReef (abundant colorful \sh), off thesouthwest coast, and Stingray Bank(sea turtles, stingrays, coral), off thenorth coast, are home to a wide arrayof marine animals. You must be acerti\ed diver and present your C cardto rent equipment and go diving. ecalm waters right off the beach atDickenson Bay are ideal for snorkeling.Or sail to Green Island on a catamaranfor the best snorkeling in Antigua.

ShoppingSt. John's has great shopping,

including duty-free shops in HeritageQuay that offer English crystal, chinaand liqueurs, Antiguan rum, beautifullocally designed silk-screened material,local pottery, Haitian wood carvingsand other handicrafts. Other popularsouvenirs include local hot sauces andjam made from black pineapples andother fruits. Susie's Hot Sauce, thepreferred local brand, has won severalawards and been featured all over theworld.

Heritage Quay in St. John'sis a popular waterfront complex with street vendorsand duty-free shopscarrying clothing,perfumes, jewelry, linens,china, local artworks, liqueurs and giftitems. Be prepared to encounter hugecrowds at Heritage Quay when thecruise ships are in port—which isoften.

View from the spa at Curtain Bluff

Antigua H^el SiteInspections�Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort�Blue Waters Antigua�Carlisle Bay�Curtain Bluff�Galley Bay�Grand Pineapple Beach Resort�Hawk's Bill by Rex Resorts�Hermitage Bay�e Inn at English Harbour�Jolly Beach Resort & Spa�St. James Club�Sandals Grande Antigua�Sugar Ridge�Tranquility Bay�Verandah Resort & SpaWe stayed at Jolly Beach and St. JamesClub, and did a circumnavigation ofthe island by catamaran.

Nelson’s Dockyarde yard was originally called "His

Majesty's Antigua Naval Yard", it onlybecame known as Nelson's Dockyardafter a major restoration project whichbegan in 1951 and is still ongoingtoday (a previous restoration attempt in1932 was abandoned).

Brief history: Construction of thenaval yard at Nelson's Dockyard beganin 1725. e dockyard in EnglishHarbour was the headquarters of theBritish Leeward islands ]eet during thelate eighteenth and early and midnineteenth centuries.

Admiral Horatio Nelson served as ayoung Captain in the CaribbeanLeeward Islands ]eet for three yearsfrom 1784 until 1787 and duringNelson's period in Antigua the navalyard was greatly expanded. Nelson wasthe 26 year old Captain of HMSBoreas, based a the yard. e facilitywas closed down and abandoned by theBritish Navy in 1889.

e principle buildings at Nelson'sDockyard include Fort Berkeley, builtin 1704 and guarding the dockyardentrance in English Harbour; the 1855Naval Officers House (now the navalyard museum including Nelson's room)and the Officers Quarters (now shops

and a restaurant), the 1789 Copper andLumber Store (now a hotel), Cordageand Canvas Store and the 1778 BoatHouse and Joiners Loft.

e old Boat House and Sail Loft waspart destroyed by a hurricane in 1871.All that remains of the original buildingare the massive boat house pillars. eSeaman's Gallery built in 1778 (now aboutique and restaurant), the PayOffice (shops) and the 1788 Pitch andTar Store (the Admirals Inn).

Nelson's Dockyard in EnglishHarbour is today part of a NationalPark. It is the most important visitorattraction for the island of Antigua andincorporates a splendid yacht marina(home of the Antigua Sailing Week); anaval museum, nature trail to FortBerkeley and a visitor centre. It is theonly remaining Georgian dockyard inthe World and many of the interestinghistorical buildings are open to thepublic.

e Gauguin cottages re]ect theartist's lifestyle in Tahiti. As youapproach, you'll see the peaked, thatchedroofs poking above the foliage and a fewhints of the thick, round walls of eachunit - twin "rondoval" cottages joined bya sheltered breezeway. In the bedroom,cool, whitewashed walls, woven bambooceilings, louvered windows and terra-cotta tile create a rustic, Tahitianambiance, with bold splashes of brightcolour.

Across the breezeway is a bathequipped with a shower and dressingarea, with louvered windows providingfresh breezes and the refreshing sensationof a beach shower to complete the feeling

of being immersed in nature. You canbrew your morning coffee in your room,then step outside and relax on yourconcealed patio, with its adjoiningprivate plunge pool the perfect spot for aromantic dip.

e spa is an open air one that isespecially wonderful for me because I amextremely sensitive to scents and cannotgo into most spas. e treatment roomsare on stilts overlooking the lagoon area.

e Gaughin Restaurant is on thebeach and the tables are palapa huts withtiny white lights decorating them. eoverall atmosphere of the resort isromantic and relaxing.

ere are many gorgeous resorts in Antigua, but this one was my personal favourite

I had the opportunity to travel toBarbados in June of 2011 with theBarbados Tourist Board

Barbados is still very British. Infact, the island is commonly referredto as "Little England." Afternoonteatime is observed in some circles,cricket is the national passion andpolo is played all winter. Manyvillages, streets, monuments andparks in Barbados are named afterlocations in the U.K., as well. AndBajans (BAY-juns), as they callthemselves, often possess a bit of theEnglish reserve, putting emphasis ongood manners.

What's more, British aristocratshave wintered in Barbados fordecades, and the island re]ects theirin]uence in many ways. e resortsare luxurious, and the restaurantsprovide \ne dining. Even duty-freeshops are more upscale than those onother Caribbean islands.

In recent years, the culture has seenan increase in American in]uence andmore appreciation of African roots aswell, resulting in a revitalizeddiscourse on Barbadian identity,particularly in the arts. Barbados isgenerally conservative, and pridesitself on being Christian.

ough efficient is a word that isnot used often in the Caribbean, it\ts Barbados better than many otherislands. It's been catering to visitorsfor decades and has one of the mostfully developed tourisminfrastructures in the region.

Although Barbados lacks rainforests, mountainous terrain andworld-class reef systems, the island's

natural beauty and scenic variety aremagni\cent. You'll \nd dramaticnatural caves, rocky cliffs withblowholes by the sea, miles/kilometersof sugarcane \elds and some remotescenic beaches. ose seeking a week ofrelaxation on beautiful beaches,perhaps with a little nightlife andhistory mixed in, will likely be pleasedwith what Barbados has to offer.

Another plus is the people ofBarbados. Bajans are some of the best-educated people in the Caribbean(Barbados boasts a literacy rate of99%), and they enjoy conversing on awide range of subjects. is qualityeven spills over into entertainment:e island's calypso music always hassomething to say and often deals withBarbados politics.

English is the official language, but adialect with its own syntax, specialmeanings and some African words is

also spoken. ough it mayseem like a cross between bad

English and gibberish, it isremarkably expressive andis often used even by the

highly educated for emphasisor comic effect.

HighlightsSights—e stained-glass windows

of St. Michael's Cathedral; themysterious 1,000-year-old baobab treein Queen's Park; the many historicmilitary buildings at e Garrison inBridgetown; a distillery tour at theMount Gay Rum re\nery in St.Michael Parish; Harrison's Cave, aseries of dramatic limestone caverns;Morgan Lewis Sugar Mill in St.

Andrew Parish; serenely beautifulCodrington College; the BathshebaShoreline; Andromeda BotanicalGardens.

Museums—e island's colorfulheritage at the Barbados Museum;vintage cars at the Mallalieu MotorCollection at Pavilion Court; colonialhistory at Sunbury Plantation House &Museum; the marine life museumwithin the Folkestone Marine Park; thehistory of sugar-making in Barbados atthe Sir Frank Hutson Sugar Museum;the Nidhe Israel Museum of theisland's Jewish heritage; social andpolitical history in the Museum ofParliament; George Washington Houseat the Garrison; Arlington House inSpeightstown; Springvale Eco-HeritageMuseum in the scenic ScotlandDistrict; the little museum at St.Nicholas Abbey.

Memorable Meals—Sunday lunchin sea-sprayed Bathsheba at a choice ofrestaurants; Bajan dishes in a lushgarden setting at Brown Sugar; upscaleseaside dining at Champers or Pisces.

Late Night—Two happy hours andnightly music at the Ship Inn; beachparties at Harbour Lights on BayStreet; a tropical dinner show at thePlantation Restaurant & Gardeneatre; dancing at McBride's Pub &Cookhouse in St. Lawrence Gap;anywhere in Oistins on the weekend;Lexy Piano Bar in Holetown.

Walks—Free nature walks with theBarbados National Trust on Sunday;guided hikes along the Arbib Heritageand Nature Trail; exploring the streetsand waterfront of historic downtownBridgetown; tranquil, green Welchman

Hall Gully; the South CoastBoardwalk.

Especially for Kids—Feeding greenmonkeys and other local wildlife at theBarbados Wildlife Reserve; eConcorde Experience next to theairport; playing on the water toys ate Boatyard.

GeographyAlthough the island is only 23 km

wide and 34 km long, its geographyvaries dramatically. Rugged hills andrough seas are typical of the easternside. (e highest point, MountHillaby, rises 340 m above the sea.)

Gentle, rolling hills on the westernside are lush with sugarcane \elds. Onthe western coast, you'll also \ndwhite-sand beaches, coral reefs andstunning seas that range in color fromdeep blue to transparent green.

PPooppuullaattiioonn:: 283,224LLaanngguuaaggeess:: English, Bajan dialectPPrreeddoommiinnaanntt RReelliiggiioonnss:: Christian(Church of England, otherProtestant sects, Roman Catholic),Jewish, Muslim and Ratafarian.TTiimmee ZZoonnee:: 4 hours behindGreenwich Mean Time (-4 GMT).Daylight Saving Time is notobserved.VVoollttaaggee RReeqquuiirreemmeennttss:: 110/120 volts

Do’s and Don’ts� Do have someone cut you a piece of

raw cane if you visit one of thesugar plantations. (Try sucking it—don't chew it.) I can't promiseyou'll like the taste or the texture(the sweetness depends on how ripeit is), but it's an experienceeveryone should have.

� Do visit a rum shop (bar) in theafternoon, order a bottle of rum(they come in three sizes), a bowl ofice and a mixer. Mix your drink,then join in the local banter.

� Do try to attend a cricket match toobserve the national pastime.

� Don't expect to gamble, since thereare no casinos. ere are slotmachines, however.

� Do expect to pay a fee to use hotelbeach facilities (such as sunloungers and umbrellas) if you'renot a guest, although the beachesthemselves are all public.

� Do be aware that the island'sfreshwater is not as abundant as itseems, and that electricitygeneration is fueled by oil, so it isappropriate (and considerate) not towaste them.

� Do expect a wide variety of nightlifeon the island, ranging from discosto local bands (includingindigenous tuk bands and steelbands).

� Don't go topless on the beach ifyou're a woman—it's illegal.

� Do say good morning, afternoon,evening or night when entering apopulated space. is greeting canbe addressed generally to all andsundry or to the person whose eyes\rst meet yours. It's consideredbasic good manners to do so.

� Don't be alarmed if you hearshouting. Caribbean people tend tobe loud, and many disputes areagreeable rituals that end in a goodlaugh.

Banks Beer Visitors Center Enjoy a tour of the brewery and

bottling plant, including a stop at thebeer garden and souvenir shop for asample.Mount Gay Rum |

Mount Gay Rum is the best knownof the Barbados rums and also has thelongest history: It was probably \rstproduced in the 1600s (accounts varyas to the exact year, anywhere from1663 to 1703).George Washington House |

is is where young Washingtonstayed in 1751 with his brotherLawrence, whose doctor prescribedBarbados as a cure for his ailments. emuseum upstairs explains what Georgesaw and learned there, and how hisvisit to Barbados marked a turningpoint in his life.e Garrison |

e Garrison area is a collection ofhistoric military buildings, including theBarbados Museum, St. Ann's Fort, theGeorge Washington House and a rarecollection of 17th-century iron cannonsleft over from the years when Barbadoswas an important military base. Tyrol Cot Heritage Village |

is is the ]agship property ofBarbados National Trust. Built in1854, the onetime home of SirGrantley Adams is an architectural gemand the centerpiece of a re-createdvillage featuring traditional Bajanchattel houses and a rum shop set in 3acres/1 hectare of gardens.Gun Hill Signal Station |

is old military outpost was builtby the British in 1818 to signal thearrival of ships and warn plantationowners of \res and slave uprisings. estation has a wonderful statue of a lionthat was carved out of a single piece ofrock by bored British soldiers in1868—it's kept pristine with whitepaint to this day. Excellent views.Andromeda Botanical Gardens |

Contains the private gardens andbotanical collection of the late IrisBannochie, who was a world-renownedhorticulturist. It's worth a visit of severalhours to explore the beautiful hibiscus,bougainvillea, orchids, palms, ferns,

philodendrons and other ]ora. ere'salso a lovely gift shop and a cafe.Animal Flower Cave |

is large sea cave in the cliff hasseveral chambers and pools, and rockformations, but few if any remaining seaanemones that give it its name.Swimming in the pools is allowed withpermission, but they're often closedwhen the weather is bad, so checkahead. Harrison’s Cave |

Offers a one-hour ride pastspectacular stalagmites, stalactites,underground rivers and waterfalls on asubterranean tram. ere's aninterpretive display on geology, a light-refreshment area, handicraft shops and anature walk, topside. Tours to the caveare available from Bridgetown.e Concorde Experience |

From 1977 until the airline's demise,Barbados was one of only four regularlyscheduled Concorde destinations. Oneof the revolutionary, supersonic planesis displayed in e ConcordeExperience, a state-of-the art,interactive aviation museum locatednext to the airport.Sunbury Plantation House &Museum |

More than 300 years old butcompletely restored after a \re, this isthe only plantation home in Barbadosthat opens all of its rooms to thepublic. ere are guided tours, and afascinating array of farm, carriage anddomestic equipment. e full-serviceon-site restaurant offers breakfast andlunch, and elegant candlelit dinners areavailable for groups by advancereservation.Plantation Restaurant & Garden

eatre |Bajan Roots and Rhythms is a

tropical dinner show with colorfulchoreography, steel bands, limbodancers and \re eaters.

Performances are Wednesday andFriday at 6:30 pm. Bds$170 adults,Bds$132 teens for hotel transportation,the show, buffet and unlimited drinks;Bds$99 adults, Bds$66 teens for showand drinks only. For the latter option,go at 8 pm.

St. Lawrence GapSt.Lawrence Gap, a 1.3 km stretch of

road in the parish of Christ Church, isfamous for it's \ne restaurants, diverseaccommodation, lively nightlife andgood shopping.

'e Gap', as it is commonly known,is a place where various cultures meetand merge ... it is an experience thatshould not be missed!

Barbados H^el SiteInspections�Accra Beach Hotel & Spa�Almond Casuarina Beach Hotel�e Crane Resort & Residences�Fairmont Royal Pavillion�Hilton Barbados�Island Inn Hotel�Mango Bay�Ocean Two�Southern Palms Beach Club�Sugar Hill�Sweet\eld Manor�Tamarind�Turtle Beach

We stayed at Ocean Two. We saw theBajan Roots and Rhythms show, IslandSafari, saw Fantastia in concert, wentto Oistens for an evening, and went ona catamaran ride to swim with the seaturtles. We were also hosted for anevening at Harbour Lights and got toparticipate in a jump-up down St.Lawrence Gap. Just a warning for theshyer types. e dancing is quitedemonstrative. I am sure we would bearrested in Canada for “wukking up”.

Photos clockwise from the top right:e Garrison District, GeorgeWashington House, Harrison’s Caves,e Concorde Experience, SunburyPlantation, Bajan Roots & RythymsShow, Tyrol, Cot Village, Swimmingwith the sea turtles, Banks beer poster,dancers at the jump up.

e popular image of Jamaica isemerald rain forests, waterfalls thattumble into cool, clear streams, andglorious beaches that rival any inthe Caribbean. e legendary"cool" of Jamaican culture is heardin its reggae music and by the drywit of the young Jamaican men whopilot visitors down the Great Riveron bamboo rafts. You won't easilyforget the throngs of competing taxidrivers who swarm outside theCrafts Market in Montego Bay.

Jamaica is one of the mostbeautiful and culturally rich islandsin the Caribbean with an economythat depends largely on tourism.Explore the countryside and minglewith the locals, as they are friendlyand truly delighted to meet andgreet tourists who visit their island.e physical beauty and vibrantculture of Jamaica are still itsgreatest assets, and the good cheeramong its people makes for amemorable vacation.

NegrilWatching the sun set from

Negril’s glorious seven-mile stretchof beach, it’s easy to see why the]ower children of the 60s ]ocked tothis remote spot at the western tipof Jamaica.

e beach is now lined withappealing resorts from well knownJamaica-based all-inclusive chainssuch as Sandals, Couples,SuperClubs, Spain-based Riu andother developers. Wisely, allbuildings are limited to the heightof the coconut trees and set back, sothe broad beach and offshore reefsfeel as unspoiled and inviting asever.

Laid-back and laissez-faire: elet-it-be, no-worries attitude is mostfelt in the West End area. Hereboutique hotels such as Rockhouseand Tensing Pen Resort, andmodest guest houses are tucked intothe dramatic rocky cliffs. ere arealso a number of small, friendlyeateries and bars. e area’s \rst andmost famous, Rick’s Café, hasballooned in size and patronage, butretains its funky feel and sunset cliffdiving tradition.

Dining and dancing: Greatseafood and Jamaican cuisine have

become a Negril hallmark, both inthe resorts, in Negril’s small town,and at seaside restaurants likeNorma’s on the Beach, Cosmo’sSeafood Restaurant andMarguerite’s.

Come evening, it’s easy to \ndgreat music. Visitors and locals getdown to the sound of live reggaebands at clubs along NormanManley Boulevard or at beachfrontbars such as Alfred’s Ocean Palaceand Risky Business, and downstairsat e Jungle Night Club & SportsBar.

PPooppuullaattiioonn:: 2,847,232LLaanngguuaaggeess:: English, Jamaican patoisPPrreeddoommiinnaanntt RReelliiggiioonnss:: Christian(Protestant, Roman Catholic),Rastafarian..TTiimmee ZZoonnee:: 5 hours behindGreenwich Mean Time (-5 GMT).Daylight Saving Time is not observed.VVoollttaaggee RReeqquuiirreemmeennttss:: 110 volts. 220-volt systems exist in some largerproperties.

Active in nature: Negril’s offshorereefs and sea grottoes provide acolourful and pristine haven for aparade of sea life that can beexplored on a glass-bottom boat, oron snorkel or scuba divingexpeditions. Sea-kayaking along thecliffs and canoe trips throughmangrove forests as well asmountain biking and horsebackrides are among the active ways toexplore Negril’s natural attractions.ere’s also an 18-hole golf coursejust south of town.

Nearby, the Royal Palm Reservein the Great Morass wetlands drawsnature lovers with its boardwalk and30-foot observation toweroverlooking the mangroves. Amongthe endemic species spotted here arethe endangered West Indianwhistling duck and the nationalbird, the streamer-tailedhummingbird, or Doctor Birdalong with over three hundred otherspecies of tropical birds, animals,butter]ies and reptiles and one ofthe largest stands of Royal Palms inthe world. ere’s also a crocodilefarm and museum on site. e only

downside can be mosquitoes, sobring repellent while exploring theReserve.

Despite its growth, Negril retainsits laid-back, anything-goes allure.Here, you can \nd discrete clothingoptional beaches and even poolareas and eateries, especially atHedonism II, which is known forits party-hearty ambience.

Montego BayWith its white-sand beaches

backed by ]ower-splashed hillsides,Montego Bay, or MoBay, has been apopular tourism destination since thelate 1800s, when rich travelers fromthe U.S. and England began comingby sea to escape the winter cold.

World-class destination: Asairplanes came into vogue, upscaleproperties such as the former HalfMoon Hotel–now a much-evolvedHalf Moon, A RockResort– startedspringing up. ese clubby intimateproperties, including Round HillHotel & Villas and the Tryall Club,Golf, Tennis and Beach Resort, havebeen joined by larger resorts such asthe Holiday Inn Sunspree.

All-inclusive giant Sandals, whichgot its start here, as well as Iberostar,Secrets, Hilton, and Ritz Carlton allhave luxury properties here. Plus,MoBay offers a wide array of non-resort accommodations, rangingfrom butler-serviced private villas toinexpensive guest houses.

Do’s and Don’ts�� DDoo ttrryy ttoo ggeett aa ttaassttee ooff JJaammaaiiccaann

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Dunn’s River Falls Rafting on the Martha Brae River

Today, the modern Montego Bay’sSangster International airport(MBJ), mega-cruise ship pier,Historic Falmouth, and brand newMontego Bay Convention Centre--along with its unsurpassed variety ofunique adventures, experiences andaccommodations--make MontegoBay the tourism hub for Jamaicaand one of the most fascinatingdestinations in the Caribbean.

e Hip Strip: Few visitors leaveMoBay without exploring theshopping, dining and party centerknown as the Hip Strip. is seasidemile-long stretch of GloucesterAvenue is lively day and night and aplayground for visiting celebrities.

Popular hangouts includeMargaritaville where, a 120-footchute drops patrons from the deckinto the sea, and almost every nightbrings another theme party night.Another favorite, the Rum JungleCafé & Bar, is open 24 hours a day,serving up more than 100 types ofrum and live music nightly.

A peek at the past: Montego Bayplayed an important role inJamaica’s plantation past andliberation movement. Sam SharpeSquare, named for the national herowhose Christmas Rebellion of 1831helped end slavery, has a statue ofSam Sharpe and a museum housedin e Cage, a 19th century jail forrunaway slaves and drunks.

In the surrounding hills, severalformer plantation great houses areopen to the public. e mostfamous, Rose Hall, is said to behaunted by the ghost of theinfamous Annie Palmer, whoreportedly murdered three husbandsand many more slave lovers beforeshe herself was slain.

e nature of MoBay: Just eastof town, you have the rare oppor-tunity to experience GlisteningWaters, a phosphorescent lagoon\lled with bioluminescent micro-organisms that light up whenmoved. Boat tours depart nightlyfrom the Glistening Waters Marinaand Restaurant.

Another rare natural \nd beckonson the Martha Brae, where you can]oat down the scenic river onbamboo rafts. Also, at theRocklands Bird Feeding Station inAnchovy, bird lovers can hand-feedhummingbirds, grassquits anddozens of other colorful species.

Popular family activities includeAnimal Farm, where kids canexplore the natural habitat of exoticbirds, ride a donkey, view farmanimals and experience solarelectricity in action.

rill seekers can go zip-liningthrough the jungle canopy, off-roadexploring in an ATV, Jeep ormountain biking or splashingthrough the surf on horseback.

Ocho RiosFifty years ago, Ocho Rios was a

small \shing village. ere were afew upscale villas and hideawayslike the ever-popular Jamaica Innthat welcomed the likes of WinstonChurchill, Ian Fleming, NoelCoward and Marilyn Monroe, aswell as Fire]y, home of playwrightNoel Coward, and now a museum.

Happily, its city fathers and theJamaica Tourist Board saw thepotential of its verdant mountain-backed shores, stunning waterfallsand running rivers and begandeepening the bay and building outits beaches to attract newdevelopment.

A planned resort: e result is apicture perfect bay with a cruiseport located steps from the edge oftown that welcomes between oneand three liners almost every day.From here, it’s easy for visitors tohead out on an ever-growingnumber of iconic adventures, whilea growing array of resorts and villasoffer plenty of reasons to stay. Infact, Ocho Rios, or "Ochi," hasbecome Jamaica’s second largesttourist center and its number onecruise port.

While less developed thanMontego Bay, the coastline of OchoRios and neighboring Runaway Bayread like a who’s who of Jamaicanall inclusives: Sandals, Couples,

Rafting on the Martha Brae River Rose Hall Plantation Rick’s Cafe

Breezes, and Riu are among thosewith properties here, along withfamily oriented brands such asBeaches and the Franklyn D. Resort& Spa. Other choices includeprivate staffed villas and chicproperties like Island Outposts’Golden Eye Hotel, former home ofauthor Ian Fleming, which is locatedjust 30 minutes away in Oracabessa.

Waterfall and river adventures:Ocho Rios could describe the area’smany rivers, but most think itsname comes from the Spanish "loschorreros", which means waterfalls.e most visited of these, Dunn’sRiver Falls, with its 600-foot climband cool pools along the way, ispractically synonymous with OchoRios.

Waterfalls also set the scene fore Ruins Restaurant, and CoyabaRiver Garden and Museum, builton the grounds of former ShawPark Plantation.

Another favorite activity is ]oatingdown the White River on innertubes, stopping to swim along theway. For an adrenalin rush, go zip-lining through the forest.

Adventures in nature: Twounique experiences have beeninspired by Jamaica’s Olympicbobsled and international dog-sledteams: a bobsleigh roller coasterthrough the jungle canopy and asled-team pulled buggy ridethrough the countryside.

Adventurers can also explore theback country by ATV, dune buggy,

and in a 4X4 or on horseback ridesthrough jungle trails and into thesurf, while Prospect Plantation, aworking agricultural propertydating back to the 18th century, canbe explored on camel- or horse-backand in open-air carriages.

Catching the beat: Just a fewmiles from Ocho Rios is the ruralmountain village of Nine Mile,reggae great Bob Marley’sbirthplace. Here, you can tour hisboyhood home, often guided by hisrelatives, who share tales of his lifeand his music.

Back in Ocho Rios, clubs such asMargaritaville, Amnesia andJamaic'N Me Crazy rock into thewee hours of the morning.

Tensing Pen is located on thewestern tip of Negril, Jamaica, andis the ultimate destinationJamaican resort for the discerningtraveler. is beautiful Jamaicanresort was created to provide asecluded getaway in Jamaica andhas evolved into a uniquedestination Jamaican resort with acollection of wood, thatch and cutstone cottages of a varying sizes andincreasing luxuries for the perfectrelaxing vacation on the coast ofJamaica in the Caribbean Sea.

Country Country

Hand crafted cottages rest waitingfor you along Negril’s famous SevenMile Beach. Your world becomes ajungle, on the beach .... with roomservice.In a carefully designed village thereis little left to be desired... and ifyou do think of something ... justtake a stroll along the beach andcatch the vibes of Jamaica at hernatural best.

Secrets Wild OrchidSecrets St. JamesTucked away from the speed ofeveryday life is a place whereturquoise tides hug white-sandbeach and blue mountain rangeextends as far as your eyes can see.is exotic hideaway, only 20minutes from the Montego Bayairport, is inspired by the lushtapestry of ]owers which dot thelandscape—Secrets Wild Orchidand Secrets St. James.

My Top Picks for JamaicaI have three favourites in Jamaica and they are all completely different from one another.

At Tensing Pen I felt like I was in Fiji with all the stone huts and thatched roofs.Country Country was a beautiful little village

with individual cottages.Secrets is a very modern resort

and I loved the decor.

Jamaica H^el SiteInspections

Montego Bay�Ritz Carleton Montego Bay�Sandals Montego Bay�Secrets St James�Secrets Wild Orchid�Toby's Inn�Wexford CourtRunaway Bay�Breezes Runaway Bay�Gran Bahia Principe�Iberostar Rose Hall Beach�Iberostar Rose Hall Suites�Iberostar Rose Hall Grand�Royal Decameron Club

Caribbean

Ocho Rios�Beaches Boscobel�Couples Tower Isle�Jewel Dunn's River (formerly

Sandals Dunn`s River Villagio)I have seen this resort under both

�Royal Plantation�Sandals Grande Riviera

Negril�Beaches Negril�Couples Swept Away�Country Country�Hedonism II�Riu Palace Tropical Bay�Sandals Negril�Tensing Pen

Dominican RepublicH^el Site InspectionsLa Romana� Dreams La Romana� Gran Bahia Principe La Romana� Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus� Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach� Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace

Punta Cana� Barcelo Dominican Beach� Barcelo Bavaro Beach� Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe� Bavaro Princess Resort & Spa� Caribe Club Princess� Dreams Palm Beach� Gran Bahia Principe� Grand Palladium Punta Cana

Resort & Spa� Grand Palladium Punta Cana

Palace� Grand Palladium Bavaro� Hard Rock Hotel & Casino� Iberostar Dominicana & Punta

Cana� Iberostar Bavaro� Iberostar Grand � Majestic Colonial� Majestic Elegance� Now Larimar� Ocean Blue� Ocean Sand� Riu Palace Punta Cana� Riu Palace Macau� Riu Mambo� Secrets Royal Beach� e Royal Suites Turquesa by

Palladium� VIK Hotel Arena Blanca & Cayena

Beach Club

We stayed at the Riu Punta CanaPalace and went on the OutbackExplorer the \rst time I was in PuntaCana April 2010.

In December 2011 we stayed at theIberostar Hacienda Dominicus andwent of the Saona Island Explorer inLa Romana.

We stayed at the Barcelo PalaceDeluxe and went on the Dr. FishOcean Spa in Punta Cana.

Located about 100 mi/160 km east of Santo Domingo, Punta Cana and itsneighbor Bavaro are ground zero in the all-inclusive resort explosion. ey'relocated along a beautiful 30-mi/48-km stretch of white-sand beach lined withcoconut palms. is lovely strip of shore looks like it was taken straight off atravel poster and has perhaps the \nest (and certainly the longest and whitest)beaches and most beautiful turquoise and jade seas in the country.

Most hotels concentrate in Bavaro, although the entire coast has becomeknown as Punta Cana, which is really a separate and somewhat more exclusivearea about 10 mi/16 km south of Bavaro. In the communities just inlandfrom Bavaro, unregulated development has stolen all charm away from thesands and seas.

e largest complex is the Barcelo Bavaro complex, with more than 2,000rooms, its own casino, two discos and an 18-hole golf course. e Bavaroresorts are closer together than those in Punta Cana, allowing for moremovement between properties. Hotel development continues to make publicbeach access more difficult year by year, although several narrow access laneslie hidden between the resorts. Although more development is moving intothis area, the resorts of Punta Cana have so far retained the relaxedatmosphere most visitors expect from a Caribbean vacation spot. Much of therecent ongoing development is centered on Cap Cana, south of Punta Canaproper; and at Macao and neighboring Uvero Alto, about a 40-minute drivenorth of Bavaro.

ere is plenty to do outside the hotels, including an increasing number ofdeluxe options. Jeep safaris lead to waterfalls and more remote beaches such asPlaya Macao, which is popular for ATV and horseback tours.

Four theme parks—the Marinarium, Dolphin Island Park, Manati Park andAnimal Adventure Park—offer plenty of thrilling options, such as swimmingwith dolphins, sea lion shows and crocodile exhibits.

One � my All Time Favourite Excursions

Dreams Palm Beach

Dr. Fish Ocean Spa is a unique 3hour spa excursion. Clients aboardthe Ocean Spa boat are pamperedwith a relaxing massage, a gentlepilates/yoga session and footdetox while cruising theturquoise waters of Bavarobeach. e boat then makes anoffshore stop where the clientscan chill some more on ]oatingmattresses.

e next stop is to theiroffshore aquarium. And here’swhere the fun starts! You get toexperience the Dr. Fish pedicure.Sitting down you place your feetinside a mini aquarium full of little

\sh – the Dr. Fish. e scienti\cname for this \sh species is GarraRufa. ese freshwater \sh are

native to the rivers of Turkey, Japanand most of the middle east wherethey have been used for decades toalleviate skin problems like psoriasisand eczema.

Dr. Fish are happy to feed on adiet of dead skin. ey have noteeth, they nibble away at any dead

skin (they don’t eat living skin)with their little mouths leavingyour feet smooth and exfoliated.Now that’s a unique Punta Canaexperience though it might be abit much to bear for the extremelyticklish ;-)

e cost for this 3 hour treat-for-you-feet and pamper session isaround 120$US and includes soft

refreshments and hoteltransportation. e excursion isavailable though your hotel tourrep.

My Top Picks for Punta Cana

Majestic Colonial & Elegance

Barcelo Bavaro Beach Barcelo Dominican BeachIberostar Bavaro

I spent 5 days in Orlando with the VisitOrlando Tourism Board and 125 TPI agents. Itwas an extremely busy 4 days starting with theBoggy Creek Adventure after we arrived at ourhost hotel Lake Buena Vista Resort and then tothe Arabian Nights dinner theatre.Day 2 started with a tour of the NickelodeonResort and character breakfast. After that weheaded to Disney World for 6 hours with apark hopper pass. ree of us decided to checkout as many hotels as we could. Next it was asite inspection of the Waldorf Astoria and theHilton for dinner.Day 3 started with a site inspection of theDoubletree Orlando and breakfast, then off toDolphin Cove, Aquatica and Sea World. Wewere invited to a reception that evening afterour tour of SeaWorld and a specialperformance of One World.Day 4: Site inspection of Loew’s Royal Paci\c,VIP Tour of Universal Studios/Islands ofAdventure, site inspection of Hard Rock Hotel,stop at Wet ‘n Wild and then a progressivedinner on Restaurant Row.Day 5: I had the most enjoyable morning]oating in the sky in a hot air balloon withOrlando Balloon Rides. After we had a seminaron the Adventure attractions and then loadedonto the bus for our drive to Ft. Lauderdale tocatch our cruise.

We spent a week on the Allureof the Seas for our annual TPIConference. While we were onthe ship we were in class learningabout all our different suppliersand networking with fellowagents.

Our \rst stop was in Labadee,Haiti at Royal Caribbean`s privatecompound. I was there a few yearsago on another cruise and it hasbeen signi\cantly enlargedincluding ziplines and a lot moreactivities.

Our second stop was inFalmouth, Jamaica at the newport. A colleague and I wentrafting on the Martha Brae. It wasa very relaxing way to spend theday.

Our third stop was in Cozumel.I have been to this island manytimes and we went to do a siteinspection of the OccidentalCozumel.

Allure of the Seas has sevendistinct neighborhoods \lled withawesome new features —like the\rst Starbucks® at sea, Broadwayhit musical Chicago in the maintheater, and favorite momentswith Shrek, Po the panda, andmore friends in the DreamWorks®Experience. Spice up your sailingwith margaritas and Mexican-farefavorites at Rita's Cantina, or withprime cuts straight from theskewer at Samba Grill BrazilianSteakhouse. And there's still

plenty more Oasis-class WOWs tobe had, from the classic carouselon the Boardwalk®, to aerialacrobats in the Aquaeater,FlowRider® surf simulators, pluszip line views over CentralPark®—a meandering gardenlined with shops and \nerestaurants.

e ship was beautiful but Imust admit at times you couldde\nitely tell how many peoplewere on the ship. e stateroomswere also smaller than on otherships.

We got to meet with CaptainZini and he is quite proud that hisship is 2`longer than the Oasis.He has quite the sense of humourand he also stopped by the nightwe had the TPI Has Talent Night.e Dreamworks characters alsopopped in to our meetings everyonce in a while.

e food was quite good in themain dining room and in thebuffet. I had a problem with myallergies though. I am extremelyallergic to garlic and everythingthat was on the dinner menu hadgarlic in it. On other ships I havesailed on I would be given themenu for dinner the next nightand whatever I chose would beprepared for me without garlic.Nothing like that was available onthe Allure. Luckily, I won`t diefrom my allergy, but it was notpleasant.

Number Region State Department advisory

1 Baja California Exercise extreme caution, particularly at night.

2 Puerto Penasaco Exercise caution, limit travel to main roads during daylight hours, cross border at Luleville, Ariz., to limit driving through Mexico.

3 Nogales Exercise extreme caution.

4 Saric Defer non-essential travel.

5 Altar Defer non-essential travel.

6 Tubutama Defer non-essential travel.

7 Northwestern Chihuahua Defer non-essential travel.

8 Ciudad Juarez Defer non-essential travel to city.

9 Guadalupe Bravo Defer non-essential travel. Carjacking, highway robberies are serious problems.

10 Ciudad Acuna Defer non-essential travel.

11 Piedras Negras Defer non-essential travel.

12 Nuevo Laredo Travelers on highways between Nuevo Laredo and Monterrey are frequent targets for robbery and violence, often caught in crossfire between criminal and police. Avoid “Boys Town” entertainment in Nuevo Laredo area due to violent crime.

13 Highway between Monterrey and the U.S. Travelers targeted for robbery and caught in crossfire. Exercise Caution.

14 Monterrey Elevated levels of violence and insecurity. travelers strongly advised to lower profiles, avoid displaying evidence of wealth that might draw attention.

15 Matamoros/Reynosa Travelers on higway to and from Monterrey (through Nuevo Laredo and Matamoros/Reynosa) are frequent targets for robbery and violence, often caught in crossfire between criminals and police.

16 Gomez Palacio Defer non-essential travel.

17 Torreon Defer non-essential travel. Frequent incidents of cartel-related violence.

18 Saltillo Defer non-essential travel. Frequent incidents of cartel-related violence.

19 San Fernando Many crimes reported in area, especially armed robberies and carjackings on highways north and south of San Fer-nando.

20 Culican Defer non-essential travel. Exercise extreme caution. Avoid toll roads in remote areas.

21 Durango Defer non-essential travel.

22 Northwestern Zacatecas Dangerouse and insecure. Remote area without police patrols.

23 Mazatlan Visit during daylight hours. Ecercise caution during late-night and early-morning hours.

24 Sombrete Avoid Highway 45 linking Sombrete and Fresnillo.

25 Zacatecas Exercise caution in the city and on roads outside the city.

26 Fresnillo Avoid Highway 49 north to Durango. Defer non-essential travel.

27 Highway between Matamoros and Tampico Many crimes reported. Be aware of risks posed by armed robbers and carjackings.

28 Tepic Site of crime and viloence. Exercise extreme caution.

29 Colotlan-Yahualica highway Defer non-essential travel due to roadblocks and gun battles.

30 Border area between Jalisco and Zacatecas Site of crime and violence. Exercise exteme caution.

31 Santa Maria del Rio Cartel violence and highway lawlessness are continuing security concerns. Defer non-essential travel on main high-ways, especially east toward Tampico.

32 San Luis Potosi Exercise caution in the city and on Highway 57D east toward Tamaulipas.

33 Morelia Exercise caution.

34 Border are between Jalisco and Michoacan Site of crime and violence. Exercise extreme caution.

35 Eastern part of state of Michoacan Defer non-essential travel.

36 Cuerrnavaca Exercise extreme caution. Numerous incidents of narcotics-related violence.

37 Ciudad Altamirano Exercise extreme caution.

38 Northwestern Guerrero Exercise extreme caution.

39 Coast road between Acapulco and Ixtapa Exercise extreme caution due to risk of roadblocks and carjackings.

40 Ixtapa Exercise caution and stay within tourist areas.

41 Acapulco Exercise extreme caution in downtown area. Do not visit at night. Remain in clearly identifiable tourist areas.

42 Zihuatanejo Exercise caution and stay within tourist areas.

43 Highway from Mexico City to Acapulco Travel during daylight hours on road between Mexico City and Acapulco.

Veracruz

Baja Califonia

Baja California Sur

Sonora

Sinaloa

Nayarit

Jalisco

Colima Michoacan

Guerrero

Oaxaca Chiapas

Chihuahua

Durango

Zacatecas

Aguascalientes

Guanajuato

Quere

taro

Hidalgo

Mex

ico Tiaxcala

Morelos Puebla

Nue

vo L

eon

Coahuila

San Luis Potosi

Veracruz Tabasco

Campeche

Yucatan

Quintana Roo

D.F.

Tamaulipas

Cabo San Lucas

Mazatlan

Culiacan

Puerto Vallarta

Ciudad Juarez

Nuevo Laredo

Matamoros/ReynosaSaltillo

Nogales

Tijuana

Acapulco

Ixtapa

Huatulco

Oaxaca

Puerto Excondido

Mexico City

Cancun

Merida

Durango

Gomez Palacio

Fresnillo

Morelia

Leon

San Miguel del Allende

SaricTubutamaAltar

Puerto Penasco

Guadeloupe Bravo

Piedras Negras

Torreon

Ciudad Acuna

San Fernando

Sombrete

Santa Maria del Rio

San Luis Potosi

Monterrey

Tampico

Tepic

1

2 34

5 67

89

10

11

12

14

19

15

27

16

2122

24

26

29 30

34

39

43

28 29

31

35

37

41

38

33

23

20

1718

13

32

25

San Cristobal del las Casas

Villahermosa

Yahualica

4042

Cuernavaca36

Ciudad Altamirano

Zihuatanejo

Guadalajara

Riv

iera

N

ayar

it

Colotlan

Mexico isone of myfavouritedestinations.I love the people.

It drives mecrazy when the media broadcaststhat it is not safe to travel toMexico. Yes, there are certainparts of the country that you shouldn’ttravel to and the red areas of the maphighlight them. e most popular tourist areasare very safe to travel to. Twenty million tourists travelledto Mexico last year. People are injured and murderedeverywhere. Even here at home.If you are a tourist and go down there with the kids and you stick to the tourist areas,you will be \ne. ere are areas in every city that you should take caution in.If you are going to frequent bars, if you are going to look for drugs, if you are buying or selling drugs, or involved in anykind of illicit activity, your odds of being affected by violence in Mexico are going to increase dramatically.So please explore the Mayan Riviera and Cancun. ey are beautiful places and you will be enriched by the culture andthe history and want to go back again and again.

On Line ReviewsI just wanted to say a few words about online review site likes TripAdvisor.Please take the reviews with a grain of salt. You don’t know what the person’s expectations were of the property, wherethey have travelled and stayed before, whether they were at the right resort to suit them or if nothing will please them.Some people just like to complain. e \rst people to write a review are the ones that are upset about something. eones that are happy take a while to \ll one out or don’t do it at all.ere have also been cases on TripAdvisor where the reviews are false or have been written by the competition to buildup their own business. In some cases people have been paid to write unfavourable reviews.

Check out Monarc.ca. is is a review site that is for Canadians. In order to post a review on the site you must enteryour booking number. at way you know that the person has stayed there.

If you go with an open mind and remember that you are on vacation and don’t have to worry about cooking, cleaning ordealing with the stress of everyday life you will in most cases have a great time. Please check with your travel advisor tosee if the resort you are planning to go to is the correct property for you. It is our job to learn about the different resortsand to match you to the one that suits your needs the best.

CChhoooossee tthhee pprrootteeccttiioonn tthhaatt’’ss rriigghhttffoorr yyoouuere are several different types oftravel insurance that can bepurchased individually or as part ofa package. ey’re each designed toprotect your travel investment andensure you travel with con\dence.

DELUXE PACKAGEis highly recommended by travellersand insurance representatives alike.ese are the most comprehensivepackages, providing coverage for abroad range of travel emergencies.Features include:> Unlimited bene\ts for emergency

medical expenses> A subsistence allowance, if you

need to extend your stay> Cancellation and interruption

insurance when purchased in apackage provides protection for44 speci\ed situations that couldprevent you from travelling asplanned, including coveragespeci\c to cruise vacations

> Baggage and Personal Effectsinsurance in the event that yourpersonal effects are lost, damaged,or delayed

> Flight Accident Insurance> Travel Accident Insurance

NON-MEDICAL PACKAGEe Non-Medical Package protectsyour travel investment with theseimportant features:> Trip cancellation and interruption

insurance> Baggage and personal effects

insurance in case your personaleffects are lost, damaged ordelayed

> Flight accident insurance> Travel accident insurance

Every travel arrangement is aninvestment. Domestic airfare andtour arrangements are often subjectto expensive cancellation penalties.is means that should you beunable to travel as planned, due toillness or an injury, you could risklosing your travel investment. Tripcancellation and interruptioninsurance protects you for up to 44speci\ed situations.

CLASSIC MEDICALMedical coverage for travellersunder 6Classic Medical Insurance providesunlimited emergency medical careprovided the condition you areseeking treatment for was stable (asde\ned in the policy) in the 90 daysbefore you leave on the trip. is

coverage can also arrange to havethe costs paid directly, so that youdon’t have any upfront out-of-pocket expenses.

GGoovveerrnnmmeenntt HHeeaalltthh IInnssuurraanncceePPllaannss DDoonn''tt CCoovveerr EEvveerryytthhiinngg

Anytime you leave Canada—evenfor a few hours—without travelmedical insurance, you're taking abig risk. Like many Canadians, youmight be surprised to know thatwhen you travel outside Canada,you leave a large portion of yourgovernment health insurance plan(GHIP) behind. Governmenthealth insurance plans also typicallycover only a limited portion ofmedical costs once you leave yourhome province or territory, even ifyou are still in Canada.

CCrreeddiitt CCaarrddss DDoonn’’tt AAllwwaayyss CCoovveerrEEvveerryytthhiinngg

Some credit cards cover basichealth insurance when you aretravelling outside your province/territory of residence or Canada.Before you take a trip, it's a goodidea to review any coverageprovided by your credit card(s) todecide whether you need additionalinsurance.

TTrraavveell wwiitthh ccoonn\\ddeennccee...... AArree yyoouu rreeaaddyy ffoorr yyoouurr ttrriipp??I understand that when you’re travelling, you don’t want to worry about a thing. But events happen, even to thewell-prepared travellers. You may have to cancel your trip at the last minute to tend to a family emergency. Youmay need medical assistance when you’re away. Your baggage may go missing, or there may be damage to yourpersonal property. You just never know.

YYoouu’’rree nnoott ccoommpplleetteellyy rreeaaddyy ffoorr yyoouurr ttrriipp iiff yyoouu hhaavveenn’’tt::> Protected your travel investment from unforeseen emergencies with trip cancellation and interruption insurance> Protected yourself with emergency medical insurance you can count on, no matter where in the world you're

travelling> Protected your valuables with baggage and personal effects insurance

BBuuyy ttrraavveell iinnssuurraannccee aass tthhoouugghh yyoouu''rree ggooiinngg ttoo uussee iittNo one takes a trip assuming the worst. But should something happen, it's good to know that you and the people you

care about will be protected. An essential part of every trip, travel insurance is a small expense for a tremendous amountof con\dence!

Next month’s issue:

Beverage package ($400pp value): Unlimited premium cocktails, wines and champagnes, imported and domestic beers, soft drinks, bottled water.

– Packages are based on unlimited consumption, including drinks with meals.– Wine and champagne selections based on bottles of up to US $42.00. Mini-bar consumption not included.– Super Premium Cognacs, Deluxe Cognacs and mini-bar not included.

Gratuities ($84pp value): $12pp/pd

Prices are cruise only, per person in US dollars based on double occupancy and include beverage and gratuity package and non-discountable amounts. Government taxes and fees are additional. Offer is valid for Canadian Residents only and must be booked by July 31, 2010. New bookings only. Certain restrictions apply. Offers are capacity controlled and may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. Ship’s Registry: Bahamas

New bookings made by July 31, 2010

September 12, 10 Wind Surf 7 Venice Roundtrip $1,799 $1,899 $2,849

October 17, 10 Wind Surf 7 Venice Roundtrip $1,799 $1,899 $2,849

October 24, 10 Wind Surf 7 Venice to Rome $1,799 $1,899 $2,849

October 30, 10 Wind Star 7 Rome to Barcelona $1,899 $2,099 N/A

October 31, 10 Wind Surf 7 Rome to Barcelona $1,799 $1,899 $2,849

November 6, 10 Wind Star 7 Barcelona to Lisbon $1,899 $2,099 N/A

November 6, 10 Wind Spirit 7 Rome to Barcelona $1,499 $1,699 N/A

November 7, 10 Wind Surf 7 Barcelona to Lisbon $1,799 $1,899 $2,849

November 28, 10 Wind Surf 7 Barbados Roundtrip $1,699 $1,899 $2,849

December 5, 10 Wind Surf 7 Barbados Roundtrip $1,699 $1,899 $2,849

December 12, 10 Wind Surf 7 Barbados Roundtrip $1,699 $1,899 $2,849

December 19, 10 Wind Surf 7 Barbados Roundtrip $2,249 $2,449 $3,799

December 19, 10 Wind Star 7 Puerto Caldera Roundtrip $2,399 $2,599 N/A

December 19, 10 Wind Spirit 7 St. Martin Roundtrip $2,399 $2,599 N/A

DATE SHIP DAYS ITINERARY CATEGORY B CATEGORY A SUITES

To book, contact Windstar Reservations at 1.800.258.7245

180° FROM ORDINARY

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heather@destinationinsights.ca613.926.1707 | 866.926.1707www.destinationinsights.ca