Magic of Mexico Travel Agent Resource

Magic of Mexico Travel Agent Resource

A Month full of Merida

We finally did it! The Great Escape happened, while the kids survived solo, and we explored yet another of Mexico's miraculously surprising lands. Previous trips to Mérida over the years amounted to mere long weekends. These gave us a sense of the place. Mérida's wonders are regularly touted in expat blogs, travel mags, and those professing to showcase a "real" Mexico experience. But all this did little to prepare us, and gave us a sort of false "I know Mérida" confidence upon arrival.

A month long house rental was secured by scouring the internet and we plucked from cyberspace a one-bedroom, one-bath colonial remodel with private pool, a/c, and access to the downtown core. The trip was meant as a working vacation: stay on top of our evolving Mexico training business while expanding our horizons and getting some "cara a cara" time in an exotic setting.

We came expecting to relax, explore, shoot fotos, and engage with meridanos, mayas, and the majesty of the land. Along the way, we discovered some real treasures to share with our Magic of Mexico followers.

La Casa de los Venados
Before we even arrived in Merida Jane had set up an appointment to enjoy a tour of the private home and art collection in Valladolid, belonging to a Chicago couple named John and Dorianne Venator.  I had seen a breathtaking video of their home on www.yucatanliving.com and was able to contact John and schedule a tour.  Click here to see the video.  Valladolid is conveniently located just 1:45 minutes from Cancun and 2 hours by bus, from Merida.  The town was recently awarded “Pueblo Magico” or Magic Town status by the Mexican Government and had a total make-over.  Cables have been buried underground, all large signage has been removed, facades have been painted, streets have been repaired.  There is lots to see and do in this small gem of a town of about 70,000 people.  Casa de los Vendados (House of the deer) is located right next to the cathedral off the main square. John and Dorianne probably have the largest private collection of Mexican Popular Art in the world.  Not only are they anxious to share their home and collection with visitors, but they have arranged to donate the house and art collection to the city of Valladolid, to run as a museum.  In the meantime, Dorianne is a Certified Meeting Planner and the house has been constructed to be the perfect venue for group events, weddings and celebrations. If you think you might be interested in setting up a tour or event you can contact John or Dorianne at  javenator1@gmail.com

Rosas & Xocolate (pronounced shoh-coh-LAH-tay)

A new boutique hotel opened last November on Paseo de Montejo, Merida’s Champs Elyses.  Although the sign is small and unobtrusive-the hotel can be easily identified by it’s bright pink color. This gem of a property brings a new level of luxury to downtown Mérida.  It’s much closer to the historic center than the Hyatt Regency, Fiesta Americana and Presidente Inter-Continental hotels. The food is exceptionally good, and the setting is luxurious and serene.  Mr. Carol Kolozs, owner and General Manager is on hand at all hours to greet guests, give personal tours, answer questions and solve problems. Travel agents get 10% commission.  Just go to the hotel website www.rosasandxocolate.com and book online or contact Alicia Villegas at aliciav@rosasandxocolate.com


Mexicachica Getaways

Meet Claudette Elizondo, the brains and beauty behind MexicaChica Getaways.  Claudette came to Merida with, in her words, "eight suitcases, two kids, and a dream".  Already fluent in Spanish thanks to her Mexican America roots, this former Dallas jewelry designer is fulfilling her dreams by creating a women's group travel company providing top-level experiential and cultural travel packages. By bringing together a team of professionals with varied backgrounds, Claudette created a tour product that helps women reawaken their passions through experience, culture and education in a supportive group environment.  MexicaChica Getaways pays 10% to Magic of Mexico blog readers.  Click here to learn more. Click here for the link to the Travel Agent information page.

A few of the most memorable treats include Greg's now favorite city park in all of Mexico: Parque de las Americas. Built in the 1940's with an indigenous revival styling, the park consists of four adjoined squares with plenty of shade, a library, enormous Mayan-inspired fountain, a concha-shaped amphitheater, and small monuments to salute the nations of the Americas (yes, even the USA and Canada are honored). A jardin de niños fittingly rounds out the park's appeal to all generations.

Greg also found swimming next to the Mayan pyramids at Dzilbilchaltún an unforgettable joy. Busy on weekends and almost deserted during the week, the cenote sits tucked behind a pyramid at the site's remote corner. Many don't even see it -- yet along plunge in for a cool dip while gazing us to the adjacent temple. Quite an experience!

Tianguis Triumphs and Tributes

Mexico's annual tourism conference has come and gone for the 33rd year. Well organized, colorful and a feast for the senses, the event strives to present the full panorama of Mexico's tourism product. From gastronomic and musical delights ("chapulines" anyone?) to panel discussions and after-hours schmoozing under the stars, the event never fails to invigorate one's enthusiasm for Mexico's uniquely tantalizing tourism offering. This year's event highlights included: An opening ceremony at the new Mundo Imperial, located just minutes from the airport in the booming "Acapulco Diamante" string of posh real estate enclaves. The 4,000-seat event center will be augmented this fall with an 800- room deluxe hotel, a 15,000 sq. foot spa, and Mexico's largest conference center at over 355,000 sq. feet of exhibit space. Just across the street is Acapulco's newest shopping and entertainment experience "La Isla Acapulco" (also opening this fall). Learn more here... New travel agent specialist programs will be launched this summer by the Los Cabos and Mazatlan tourism boards. The programs will be bolstered by live seminar series held across the U.S. and Canada in the Fall. The programs will include interactive e-learning courses, easy downloading of destination Study Guides, videos and maps (to share with clients), consumer leads for graduates and FAM trip opportunities. Look for these programs this summer at www.magicofmexico.com. Did you know...

• Aeromexico is now flying from Detroit to Monterry and Mexico City?
• Mexico City has banned smoking in ALL public buildings?
• The Costa Maya (south of the Riviera Maya) and its popular cruise port of Mahajual (damaged by hurricane Dean last fall) will be fully operational for early 2009 cruise ship arrivals?
• Huatulco, the fledgling resort on Mexico's southern Oaxacan coast is about to benefit from a huge infusion of federal inftrastructure investment?
• Nayarit State will be building new roads to support the "Riviera Nayarit" coastal tourism boom, a mixture of boomer-friendly condos, private homes, golf courses, marinas and eco-sensitive tourism clusters?
• The successful Tesoros de Michoacán hotel marketing alliance has been expanded to incorporate unique lodging options in Morelos (Cuernavaca), Puebla, and Guanajuato States?
• Mexico City's massive airport has a spiffy new international air terminal (Terminal Dos, home to all Aeromexico operations) with an impressive lobby display of UNESCO World Heritage sites from across Mexico?
• Mazatlán is now a railroad head for deluxe "Copper Canyon" train excursions thanks to U.S.- based Grand Lux Rail Journeys?
• Puerto Vallarta just hosted the world's largest "beach soccer" championship, sponsored by FIFA?

Buen Viaje, Amigo... Mexico and its tourism supporters had the chance to say goodbye to one of its most loyal supporter, writer Nick Gallo. Nick passed away at age 57 last fall while traveling on assignment to Greece. He was a gifted writer who left a lasting impression on both his readers and peers. From his home in Seattle he penned more than 350 travel articles and won the Pluma de Plata award for his excellent Mexico coverage. His writing appeared in publications ranging from the Seattle Times, New York Times, People Magazine, Men's Health, to Travel+Leisure and others. This past week in Acapulco, his peers established an annual award to honor exceptional Mexico travel writing. Gone but not forgotten, Nick helped bring Mexico to life for thousands of readers. We wish him well on his future travels.

Acapulco on the Rise

The "birthplace" of jet-set tourism is undergoing a re-birth. Yes, I know you've been hearing for the past 20 years about Acapulco's "comeback". Why should you pay attention this time, when in the past the "comeback" was fairly cosmetic. Acapulco is and will aways be THE Mexican beach resort experience. Its position of "Mexico for Mexicans" was solidified by way of the "Autopista del Sol" that lures Mexico City residents to their favorite beach getaway -- only a three-hour drive from the capital. But there's truly some "new" in the news about this world class resort. Beyond the hype Acapulco is getting hip. It's building new resorts (W and Banyan Tree), a new world class shopping complex ("La Isla" like the one in Cancun), and Mexico's most ambitious event center/hotel (the "Mundo Imperial"). The strip between the airport and Puerto Marques is booming with these and other projects, while Acapulco Bay and its famoso "Costera" remain the star attraction. Stay tuned...

9% Más

Been to Pacific Mexico lately? If you're known to tip back an icy "cerveza" from time to time, you'll have noticed that independent Pacífico has inflated its bottle size. Yes. It's now "9% más" in every bottle. After just a couple you're already 18% ahead of the competition. Pacífico froths forth from sunny, friendly, colonial-esque Mazatlán. The brewery is right downtown. On a recent visit to this booming and very self-assured Mexican community, there were discoveries around every corner. During the warm days and sarape evenings of post-carnaval, Jane and I were amazed by the rebirth of historic downtown. This nostalgic 19th century grid of Spanish influenced facades, plazas and churches is punctuated with hump-like hills affording sweeping Pacific views. A wave of lovely restorations has bestowed the area with new B & B's, cafes "al aire libre" and an aire of civic pride. Take a table at the Plaza Machado and enjoy 9% más. Felicidades Mazatlán, amigo viejo.