Recommend August 2010 - (Page C2)

Gulf of Mexico Mexico • Belize City Belmopan BELIZE CALL OF THE WILD... CALL OF THE SEA... CULTURE CALLING... • Roatan GUATEMALA • Guatemala City • San Pedro Sula HONDURAS •Tegucigalpa • San Salvador • Capital city International Airport EL SALVADOR Pacific Ocean NICARAGUA • Managua B Liberia • COSTA RICA • San Jose Caribbean Sea • Panama City Buyers and sellers of international travel have undoubtedly heard that Central America is calling an increasing number of travelers to a region shared by seven countries that form a land bridge between North and South America. Although collectively they cover an area not even as large as the state of Texas, the destinations of Central America embrace a whole new world of the kinds of vacation experiences that people seek nowadays: adventurous, nature-oriented, cultural and involving. And those travel experiences have been enhanced by two decades of extensive development of upscale hotels, boutique lodges, and jungle inns—all ﬁtted out with sybaritic rainforest spas and adrenalin-producing ziplines. From capital cities and colonial towns, to the farthest corners, Central America’s comfort levels keep soaring to new heights—ﬂying the banners of luxury and ecological correctness. The result is a bonanza of wonderful lodges and hideaways for visitors to make themselves at home in the mountains, near nature reserves, or by the sea. Additionally, we’re all better connected, because there’s been a signiﬁcant boost in international air service from an increased number of U.S. gateways, as well as the expansion of a good network of regional and domestic air services. Further, roads have been upgraded, pulling important attractions into the mainstream of vacation planning and expanding the possibilities for intra-regional travel. A decade ago, who would have thought of taking a day trip from San Ignacio in Belize to Tikal in Guatemala, or linking the beaches of El Salvador to colonial Antigua with just a 4-hour drive overland? And, of course, many more travelers are getting a taste of Central America on cruises, now capitalizing on upgraded and new ports in the region. The latest to be announced is a third port-of-call in Honduras: Trujillo. C2 August 2010 PANAMA And it comes as no surprise that all this infrastructure upgrading has brought on a bevy of creative tour products: from multi-sport packages for the active traveler, to Maya-land itineraries for the culture buff; from birdwatching and orchid garden touring, to language studies for students of all ages. However, of all the special interest possibilities and markets, here two share top billing—honeymoons and family travel. Tailor-made vacations continue to be the booking trend, with different vacation strokes for different folks. But know that when Central America calls, the basic message for everyone can be irresistible. Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama are accessible and welcoming, fun-ﬁlled and fascinating destinations for North American travelers: your clients. TABLE OF CONTENTS BELIZE ........................... C4 COSTA RICA ................. C7 EL SALVADOR .............C11 GUATEMALA .............. C12 HONDURAS ............... C13 NICARAGUA .............. C14 PANAMA ..................... C16 This supplement was written by Carla Hunt. recommend.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend August 2010

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk
Tour Talk
Uniworld's River Royale
Discover flanders
Five-Star Taiwan
Karisma Sweetens the Pot
Barcelo Los Cabos Palace Deluxe
Playa Grande Resort & Grand Spa
Central America Calling...
Garza Blanca Preserve, Resort & Spa
Israel With Goway Travel
Puerto Rico: A community Experience
Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina
The Bahamas: Players' Paradise
Orlando World Center Marriott Resort
All-American St. Louis
PH Towers by Westgate, Las Vegas

Recommend August 2010