Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - (Page 26)

DESTINATIONS MEXICO CANCUN Hotels Travel Agent toured some of Cancun’s finest properties BY JOE PIKE The expansive pool at Aqua IN OUR DECEMBER 22 ISSUE, Travel Agent told you about the great Riviera Maya properties we visited during a one-week trip to Mexico. Now, we’ll tell you about the Cancun properties we saw during that trip. Our first Cancun property tour was at Palace Resorts’ Beach Palace, Cancun (www.palace resorts.com). Like most Cancun properties, this all-inclusive resort was devastated by Hurricane Wilma in 2005; it reopened in 2007 and is practically 100 percent new. There are only two room categories here (Superior and Presidential Suites), which made for an easy tour. The best room we saw—and possibly the best room in the resort—was room #1000, which was one of the property’s 24 Presidential Suites. There is a Jacuzzi in every room, living and dining areas, and a king-size bed, but our favorite aspect was what we found outside: a spacious balcony with views of the ocean and the main pool. Just in front of the pool is a 500foot-high projection screen where movies are played at night, and where the resort airs the National Football League’s Super Bowl every 26 | TravelAgent January 19, 2009 year. The best part is that the screen is completely visible from the balcony, so your clients can book the Presidential Suite and essentially have their own private Super Bowl party. This, along with some very chic sports bars with more than 20 flat-screen TVs, makes this the perfect guys’ getaway property. Then again, the 10-treatment-room spa and shopping area make this a great haven for a girls’ getaway, too. Couples will feel comfortable here as well, but we got the impression that this resort is a great spot for a vacation with friends. Agents should contact Luis Miguel Ojeda Arsuaga, general manager, at 011-52-998-8914110, ext. 4000, or lojeda@palaceresorts.com. The second stop was another Palace Resorts property, Le Blanc Spa Resort, Cancun (www. leblancsparesort.com). Where Beach Palace is geared mainly toward singles and friend getaways, Le Blanc has “couples” written all over it. In fact, the all-inclusive, adults-only resort is made up of about 90 percent honeymooners. There are five room categories here. Our favorite was the Royal Junior Suite. We saw room #315, just one of 26 Royal Juniors, and we actually recommend booking that rather than the Presidential Suite or the Governor’s Suite. Why? The bed is in the center of the room, and the windows, which offer great ocean views and excellent light, are both in front of the bed and to the left. The spa was also quite impressive. Hands down, the best room at the 19-treatment-room spa was the “BlancDior,” or the master spa suite. This room comes with all the essentials, from a sauna and steam room to couples’ massage beds. The price includes a two-hour-minimum treatment, aromatherapy and a bottle of wine. Agents looking to book Le Blanc should contact Reservations Manager Lourdes Ancona at 011-52-998-881-6000 or lancona@palace resorts.com. The next stop on Travel Agent’s Cancun hotels tour landed us at the Hyatt Cancun Caribe (www.cancun.caribe.hyatt.com). The 296-room property is made up of three different buildings. The room categories are Standard Rooms, CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 http://www.palaceresorts.com http://www.palaceresorts.com http://www.leblancsparesort.com http://www.leblancsparesort.com http://www.cancun.caribe.hyatt.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - January 19, 2009

Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 Contents A New Direct Route from New York to Atlantic City Might Help Casinos New Villas from CuisinArt, Controversy from the CTO and Pages from Hemingway in Cuba From the Editor New Zealand: These Lodges and Farms Offer Intimacy and Luxury Pacific/Asia: Mumbai's Damaged Hotels Reopen After Tragedy Alaska: Alaska Commemorates 50 Years of Statehood with Cruise Packages for Your Clients Las Vegas: Tips for Agents on Demystifying Deals Speaking of Deals, Here are Some Great Ones for Vegas Mexico: Get to Know Some of the Finest Properties in Cancun Caribbean: Political Change Might Make Travel to Cuba a Reality Sandals' Star Awards Cruises: Luxury Cruise Share Insider Advice Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back Luxury Travel Expo: The 10th Anniversary of this Event Was One to Remember Tours: Tapping into the Gay and Lesbian Market JoyStar Collapse May Involve More Agents and Higher Losses Marriott's Spirit of Aloha Tour Rolls Along the West Coast Cruise Lines Continue to Pour Dollars into Advertising Small Business Resources Can Help Your Agency Stay Afloat Editorial Index Advertising Index

Travel Agent - January 19, 2009

Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 (Page Cover1) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 (Page Cover2) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 (Page 1) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Contents (Page 2) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Contents (Page 3) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Contents (Page 4) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Contents (Page 5) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - A New Direct Route from New York to Atlantic City Might Help Casinos (Page 6) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - A New Direct Route from New York to Atlantic City Might Help Casinos (Page 7) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - New Villas from CuisinArt, Controversy from the CTO and Pages from Hemingway in Cuba (Page 8) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - New Villas from CuisinArt, Controversy from the CTO and Pages from Hemingway in Cuba (Page 9) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 10) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 11) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 12) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 13) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 14) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - From the Editor (Page 15) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - New Zealand: These Lodges and Farms Offer Intimacy and Luxury (Page 16) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - New Zealand: These Lodges and Farms Offer Intimacy and Luxury (Page 17) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Pacific/Asia: Mumbai's Damaged Hotels Reopen After Tragedy (Page 18) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Pacific/Asia: Mumbai's Damaged Hotels Reopen After Tragedy (Page 19) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Alaska: Alaska Commemorates 50 Years of Statehood with Cruise Packages for Your Clients (Page 20) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Alaska: Alaska Commemorates 50 Years of Statehood with Cruise Packages for Your Clients (Page 21) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Las Vegas: Tips for Agents on Demystifying Deals (Page 22) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Speaking of Deals, Here are Some Great Ones for Vegas (Page 23) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Speaking of Deals, Here are Some Great Ones for Vegas (Page 24) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Speaking of Deals, Here are Some Great Ones for Vegas (Page 25) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Mexico: Get to Know Some of the Finest Properties in Cancun (Page 26) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Mexico: Get to Know Some of the Finest Properties in Cancun (Page 27) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Mexico: Get to Know Some of the Finest Properties in Cancun (Page 28) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Mexico: Get to Know Some of the Finest Properties in Cancun (Page 29) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Caribbean: Political Change Might Make Travel to Cuba a Reality (Page 30) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Caribbean: Political Change Might Make Travel to Cuba a Reality (Page 31) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Caribbean: Political Change Might Make Travel to Cuba a Reality (Page 32) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Caribbean: Political Change Might Make Travel to Cuba a Reality (Page 33) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Sandals' Star Awards (Page 34) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Sandals' Star Awards (Page 35) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cruises: Luxury Cruise Share Insider Advice (Page 36) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cruises: Luxury Cruise Share Insider Advice (Page 37) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cruises: Luxury Cruise Share Insider Advice (Page 38) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cruises: Luxury Cruise Share Insider Advice (Page 39) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back (Page 40) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back (Page 41) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back (Page 42) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back (Page 43) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back (Page 44) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cover Story: Bringing Europe Back (Page 45) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Luxury Travel Expo: The 10th Anniversary of this Event Was One to Remember (Page 46) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Luxury Travel Expo: The 10th Anniversary of this Event Was One to Remember (Page 47) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Luxury Travel Expo: The 10th Anniversary of this Event Was One to Remember (Page 48) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Luxury Travel Expo: The 10th Anniversary of this Event Was One to Remember (Page 49) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Tours: Tapping into the Gay and Lesbian Market (Page 50) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - JoyStar Collapse May Involve More Agents and Higher Losses (Page 51) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Marriott's Spirit of Aloha Tour Rolls Along the West Coast (Page 52) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Cruise Lines Continue to Pour Dollars into Advertising (Page 53) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Small Business Resources Can Help Your Agency Stay Afloat (Page 54) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Editorial Index (Page 55) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Advertising Index (Page 56) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Advertising Index (Page Cover3) Travel Agent - January 19, 2009 - Advertising Index (Page Cover4) 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