By Judy Newell
Mexico News
Mexico’s Share of U.S. Travel Abroad Spikes with Pandemic
The drastic decline in air travel linked to the COVID-19 pandemic has provoked a spike in Mexico’s share of U.S. air travel abroad from 18 percent during the first half of 2019, to 41 percent during the same period this year, official figures show.
“Given the limited options (for travel) and with the efforts of (Mexican tourism) entrepreneurs … Mexico has doubled its share in this market, and four out of ten trips that left the United States by plane went to Mexico.” said CICOTUR, a tourism think tank based at Anáhuac University in Mexico City.
International News
Loch into these Deals
Friendly tour directors are waiting to show you all the delights of these magical lands. Be dazzled by the Scottish Crown Jewels, step into a fairytale at Brodie Castle, and visit the Stone Age village at Skara Brae on the Orkney Islands. There’s so much to discover.
Irish and Scottish Sampler
8 or 9 days from US$2,495
Discover Dublin, Brú na Bóinne, and Giant’s Causeway, then Highlands, St. Andrews, a whisky tasting, and Edinburgh Castle. Enjoy nights of Scottish and Irish entertainment.
Best of Britain
10 days from US$2,515
Spend two nights in Edinburgh on this tour that also takes in England and Wales. Tour Edinburgh Castle and enjoy an evening of Scottish entertainment.
Taste of Scotland and Ireland
10 or 11 days from US$2,545
Discover the highlights: Glasgow, Loch Ness, Edinburgh, whisky tasting in the Highlands, Ring of Kerry, and Cliffs of Moher. Enjoy a Scottish evening and a castle banquet.
Highlights of Britain
14 days from US$3,695
Spend three nights in Edinburgh, taking in the city and castle, St. Andrews, Glamis Castle, Abbotsford House and a Scottish evening. Also see Cornwall, Cardiff, York, and London.
Scottish Isles and Glens
12 days from US$3,025
Head off the beaten path to see rugged Highlands, coastal byways, Orkney’s archaeological treasures, and Inverness. Visit the Isles of Bute and Skye.
Taste of Britain and Ireland
14 days from US$3,690
See the highlights of Edinburgh and Glasgow along with England and Ireland while staying in lively cities like Bath, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Belfast, and Galway.
All tour prices are land only.
Cruise News
Epic US$107,000 Golf Cruise
For those with plain-old wealth and a taste for travel, there’s 72 days at sea on a golf cruise that starts at US$107,000 per twosome.
In partnership with leading golf travel operator, PerryGolf, the luxury cruise line Azamara is offering the “2023 European Golf Cruise Medley,” a blowout excursion aimed at an upscale market brimming with pandemic-induced, pent-up demand.
Combining six voyages into a single extravaganza, the Golf Cruise Medley will stop at 47 ports in 11 countries in Northern Europe and the Iberian Peninsula over the span of 72 days.
The golf itinerary features 29 rounds at an all-star roster of courses, including such GOLF World Top 100 tracks such as Royal County Down, Royal Dornoch, Kingsbarns, and Royal Portrush. Twenty courses that rank among the top 20 in their respective countries are also on the agenda, including Lofoten Links in Norway, and Oitavos Dunes, in Portugal.
Along with a tantalizing smorgasbord of golf, the cruise will offer first-rate sightseeing, highlighted on the golf front by weekend attendance at the 151 British Open at Royal Liverpool, for those onboard for the British Isles portion of the voyage.
The cruise will begin next year in Copenhagen on July 10, and end in Lisbon on September 19. The price per golfing couple starts around US$107,000.
New Itinerary Coming from Princess
A notable offering from Princess Cruises in 2022 is its first-ever summer season sailings to Mexico, Hawaii, and the California coast. The new voyages will sail roundtrip from Los Angeles on board the Sapphire Princess starting June 25, 2022.
Ports of call include Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, and Ensenada in Mexico, as well as Hilo, Kauai, Maui, and Honolulu in Hawaii.
Aviation News
Condor Airlines Jetting off to Los Angeles
German leisure carrier Condor Airlines will operate a new, non-stop Frankfurt route from Los Angeles (LAX), operating three times per week. Operating on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday, it launched on May 24.
All flights are operated on Boeing 767-300 three-class aircraft. From its Frankfurt hub, Condor offers connecting service to more than 100 destinations throughout Europe via Condor airline and rail partners.
Deal of the Week
Set Sail this Summer and Save
Celebrate summer from the best vantage point in travel: an all-inclusive river cruise on Uniworld’s floating boutique hotels, where you’ll enjoy luxurious amenities onboard and exclusive access to unique experiences onshore—all for an incredible value with limited-time fares as low as US$1,999!
Plus, River Heritage Club members can enjoy exclusive savings on every cruise. Set sail soon on these itineraries:
Enchanting Danube
8 days, Budapest to Passau, S.S. Maria Theresa
July 3, 10, 31—From US$1,999
Castles along the Rhine
8 days, Basel to Amsterdam, S.S. Antoinette
July 24, 31—From US$2,799
Brilliant Bordeaux
8 days, Bordeaux to Bordeaux, S.S. Bon Voyage
July 10, 17—From US$2,199
Milan, Venice & the Gems of Northern Italy
10 days, Milan to Venice, S.S. La Venezia
July 1, 22, 29—From US $2,799
Sources: Mexico Today, CIE Tours, Golf, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel Mole, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Judy Newell, an international travel consultant for 50+ years, heads Perfect Journeys and specializes in unique travel experiences to destinations around the world. She custom designs journeys that are tailored to suit client’s interests, physical abilities, and budgets. Please contact Judy for further information on Travel News topics, Mexico and international travel. Cell phone 415 111 8765, Vonage 949 300 3682; email judynewell@perfectjourneys.net. Her office is in Rancho Los Labradores on the highway to Dolores Hidalgo.
