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Caribbean Travel RoundupNewsletter - Gert van Dijken, Editor |
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COZUMEL, Mexico (Feb. 6, 2003) ^Ö Isla Cozumel, the largest island in the Mexican Caribbean, announces 2003 value-added family packages and rates offered by the island^Òs hotels and resorts. Plaza Las Glorias Cozumel features a simple, affordable family package including free hotel accommodations and meals for children under the age of 12 staying with a parent. Package rates start at $113 and are valid through Dec. 19, 2003. An adventure package is also offered for families including a luxurious junior suite, breakfast buffet and free hotel accommodations for children under the age of 12 traveling with two adults. Rates start at $176 per double occupancy. For more information, call 1-800-342-AMIGO. Presidente Inter-Continental Cozumel offers the ultimate family vacation experience. The package includes four-night hotel accommodations in a beach-access, ocean front room, for two adults and two children under the age of 12. Guests interested in reserving a second room for children will receive a 50 percent room discount. Children will be provided a welcome amenity, in-room bathrobes, breakfast and afternoon snacks, one pay-per-view movie per day, safety children^Òs program for parents, children^Òs menu and complimentary access to the Chiqui Club, a program for children ages 5 through 12. Package includes breakfast for two adults. Babysitting services are available for an additional cost. Package rates are available for $1,830 plus tax and service fees. For more information or to make reservations, visit www.cozumel.intercontinental.com or call 1-800-327-0200. Fiesta Americana Cozumel Dive Resort features an action-packed ^ÓFiestaKids^Ô club for children ages 4 through 12. The yearlong program includes poolside and beachfront water sports. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. through 10 a.m., scuba diving lessons are available at the pool for children ages 8 through 12. Special programs are offered for spring, summer and winter vacations. All-inclusive rates start at $125 per person. For more information on additional packages and reservations, visit www.fiestamericana.com or call 1-800-FIESTA1. Playa Azul Hotel features a child-friendly program available all yearlong, including beach toys available upon arrival, a small child-sized beach chair and free hotel accommodations for children under the age of 12. Room rates start at $130. Activities include diving and golf lessons at an additional rate. Additional beds are available complimentary in all suites. For information and reservations, visit www.playa-azul.com or call 011-52-987-87-20199. Reef Club Isla Cozumel Beach Resort offers a fun-filled kids club program including piñata decorating, sea-shell and theater tour, Olympic games, ice cream party, kayak tour, snorkel lessons, beach volleyball and more. Available for children ages 4 through 12. For more information visit www.reefclubcozumel.com or call toll-free at 1-888-773-4349. Named "Cuzamil" by the Maya who inhabited it more than 2,000 years ago, Isla Cozumel or "land of the swallows" is located in the state of Quintana Roo, east of the Yucatan Peninsula. Cozumel, approximately 30 miles long and 10 miles wide, has an international snorkeling and diving reputation with the world's second-largest reef network featuring limestone caves, tunnels and rare black coral. Cozumel Reefs National Park, a protected 30,000-acre national area covering 85 percent of the island^Òs dive sites and embracing the southern section of Cozumel, was created in 1996 for the purpose of conserving, monitoring and researching the reef formation and its natural habitat. In 2002 a U.S. News & World Report Travel Agent Survey recognized Isla Cozumel as the North American/Caribbean destination offering the best vacation value. Visit Cozumel on the World Wide Web at www.islacozumel.com.mx.
MIAMI (Feb. 18, 2003) ^Ö Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts in Mexico and the Dominican Republic are offering romantic honeymoon & wedding package deals for guests throughout 2003. Gran Meliá Cancun Beach & Spa Resort, Cancun, Mexico, features an exquisite honeymoon package which includes a deluxe ocean front room with terrace, daily American or buffet breakfast, savory fruit basket, romantic dinner including a domestic bottle of wine and in-room bottle of imported sparkling white wine. Also available for honeymooners are discounts on car rentals and select tours. All gratuities and taxes included. Rates begin at $621 per couple, with a minimum stay of four nights. This package is valid now through Dec. 20, 2003. Meliá Caribe Tropical All-Inclusive Resort, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, offers a special combination wedding and honeymoon package deal for the perfect wedding. The resort offers a comprehensive wedding package including a nuptial deluxe junior suite with Jacuzzi (subject to availability), judge, wedding coordinator, wedding cake to serve 10 people, floral table-top decoration, bouquet for the bride and boutonniere for the groom, photography services, two bottles of sparkling wine, fruit basket, bottle of Dominican Rum, musical trio, horse carriage ride, dinner for two, late check-out, 10% discounts on spa treatments and motorized watersports and a surprise gift. Honeymoon accommodations included for desired length of stay. The package rate is $850 per couple and valid now until Dec. 20, 2003. Meliá Cozumel All-Inclusive Golf & Beach Resort & Sol Cabañas del Caribe, Cozumel, Mexico, invites couples to experience a blissful wedding. The basic wedding package rate is $850 per couple and includes a bottle of champagne for two, decorated wedding area, unique Caribbean wedding cake for two, personal wedding coordinator, justice of the peace, certified marriage license and preparation of legal documentation. The classic wedding package rate is $1,050 per couple, including additional options of upgraded bridal bouquet, boutonniere, hors d^Ò oeuvres, and professional photography package. Romantic honeymoon packages for each resort include ocean-view accommodations for three or seven nights, two-night gift certificate valid for the first anniversary, round-trip transportation from the airport, car rental for a day, flowers upon arrival, petit fours in room each night, bottle of champagne for two, romantic dinner for two and unlimited rounds of golf. Meliá Cozumel all-inclusive honeymoon package rates start at $870 per couple and also include meals, beverages, shows, daily activities, tips and taxes. Sol Cabañas del Caribe honeymoon package rates begin at $447 per couple. All packages valid now through Dec. 19, 2003. Paradisus Punta Cana, All-Inclusive Beach Resort, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, offers guests a combination wedding and honeymoon in paradise with special package deals starting at $850 per couple, including accommodations for desired length of stay. The package includes a wedding coordinator, wedding ceremony with judge, marriage license, floral table-top decorations, flower bouquet for the bride, boutonniere for the groom, two bottles of sparkling wine, wedding cake for 10 people, romantic dinner for two, breakfast, flowers and sparkling wine for the morning after, Caribbean Duo or Trio and peaceful carriage ride through the mangroves and exotic gardens of Paradisus Punta Cana. Package also features honeymoon suite, two heart pillows, bathroom amenities, flowers upon arrival, savory fruit platter, bottle of sparkling wine, nuptial breakfast, honeymooners cocktail party, house cleaning, turndown service and late check-out. Package is valid now through Dec. 20, 2003. Paradisus Riviera Cancun, All-Suites All-Inclusive Beach & Spa Resort, Puerto Morelos, Mexico, presents deluxe, all-inclusive wedding and honeymoon packages for three, five or seven nights. The honeymooner^Òs package features a superior suite (subject to availability), welcome fruit basket, bottle of champagne, two-night gift certificate for first anniversary, 10% discount at the spa, a honeymooner^Òs cocktail party with two photos, romantic dinner for two, photo session of 24 photos and late check-out. The wedding package includes the components of the honeymooner^Òs package with additional features such as a wedding cake for 20 people, ceremony coordination, nuptial gazebo decorations, bouquet for the bride, boutonniere for the groom, exquisite floral arrangement for the ceremony table and bride^Òs make-up. The wedding package starts at $1,822 per couple. The honeymoon package starts at $1,191 per couple. Both packages are valid now until Dec. 31, 2003. Paradisus Playa Conchal All Suite Beach & Golf Resort invites honeymooners to indulge themselves in Royal Suite Luxury Accommodations. The all-inclusive honeymoon package includes a fruit basket upon arrival; complimentary bottle of champagne; all meals, including snacks and 24-hour room service; all beverages, including premium brand liquors; one couples massage; non-motorized water sports; breakfast in bed upon request, and a romantic sunset cruise tour for two. The resort provides personalized concierge and butler service; an exclusive VIP lounge, where guests are greeted with sparkling wine or fresh fruit juices; continental breakfast; private bar with hors d^Òoeuvres from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; big-screen TV; message center; tours and ticketing arrangements, and express check-in and check-out. Paradisus Playa Conchal honeymoon packages start at $959.00 per person. The package is valid now through Dec. 22, 2003. Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts is one of the world^Òs most successful hotel companies with its four brands ^Ö Meliá Hotels, Tryp Hotels, Sol Hotels and Paradisus Resorts ^Ö with over 350 hotels in more than 30 countries worldwide. Sol Meliá^Òs 2002/2003 expansion plans include new properties in Brazil, Peru, Puerto Rico, Mexico and throughout Asia Pacific and Europe. Individual reservations can be made through a travel consultant or by calling toll-free 1-800-33MELIA (63542). Group reservations can be made through a professional meeting and incentive planner or through Sol Meliá^Òs group desk (CIMAS) by calling 1-888-33MELIA or via e-mail: Cimas@sol-group.com. Hotel information can also be obtained by accessing Sol Meliá at www.solmelia.com. For images of the properties highlighted in this press release, please visit www.solsearching.com.
I am Canadian from Ontario and I assisted the Spanish immersion course at Tropical House Puerto Plata. On the net, I found the site www.tropicalhouse.tk . I was before as a tourist in Playa Dorada Dominican Republic. I went back especially to learn Spanish. In Muñoz, the village where the course takes place, you hear only Spanish! No need to be shy… As you know, local people are very friendly. Next thing you know you are playing dominos in Spanish and order “una cerveza” at the “ colmado” . Our teacher Maria was very helpful! We had lessons every day and we studied songs, we had games and once a week there was a guest, a Dominican from Muñoz who entertained us with an easy speech. The goup of 8 in ourclass also went with the teacher to the market, to the beach, we had different outings together. It was fun and all in Spanish….so many words to memorize! I must say I spent lots of time studying too but at the end I was myself surprised all I could understand. On Thursdays there is a karaoke in town , I really had fun there! The last day of Spanish we had a party shared with Dominican friends. The ambiance was nice and everyone was communicating in Spanish. I staid one month in a furnished studio. I had my own studio and paid 295 USD. I could have paid 100 USD less if I had shared the lodging with another person. With 2 other students I met there, we were sharing the cooking and getting together anyway. Sometimes we went out to eat in the village, mostly at Myriam’s cafeteria. Then it was party time at the discos. Lot’s of dancing! To go to the beach the public cars cost 5 pesos and it takes 10 to 15 min to be in Playa Dorada. Next time I will bring my bicycle! ¡Quiero volver a la Republica Dominicana!
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