By Judy Newell
Mexico News:
Need a different winter vacation? Try these five alternative Mexico getaways:
The season that stretches from Christmas to New Year’s is a popular time of year for locals to escape city life and unwind with a change of scenery. There are staple destinations where you are sure to bump into one of your neighbors. Tulum, Acapulco, Cabo, Oaxaca City, and San Miguel de Allende are historically fashionable holiday havens.
If you’d like to go somewhere a bit more tranquil that still boasts cultural flair, consider the following five options:
Puebla’s Sierra Norte
This Puebla region is a stunner. Its green and mountainous landscape, dotted with ancient ruins, is sure to please any outdoor enthusiast. This is also the spot to celebrate holidays and traditions in a most authentic manner. And in case you were wondering, the entire state of Puebla is a culinary goldmine.
Oaxaca
The traditional festivals of Oaxaca City make it a bustling destination for tourists during the holidays. Despite its rising popularity among the international crowd, the coast of Oaxaca is still a more restful alternative to hotspots like Cancún, Mazatlán, or Puerto Vallarta. Other attractions include surfing, hiking, whale watching, fishing for lunch, or simply lounging with a good book.
Holbox
If you’re searching for a more Caribbean vibe, this tiny island just might be the ticket. From the Cancún airport, make a two-hour escape north to the town of Chiquila, where you’ll hop on a ferry and hop off in paradise. Holbox is whimsical and charming and especially quiet over Christmas. The carefree, lackadaisical culture lends itself sweetly to long, lazy days on the beach.
Valle de Guadalupe
As the rest of Mexico flocks to the coastline, why not head slightly inland where you can immerse in Baja’s laid-back vibes and sip wine. The landscape is gorgeous, with rolling hills of vineyards set against a backdrop of beautiful, blue sky. Outside of remarkable Mexican wines and fantastic food there isn’t much to do, but that’s the beauty of it.
Campeche
Utterly overlooked by the international crowd, Campeche is brimming with culture, museums, and Mayan undertones. This pastel-hued, seaside town was once a pirate’s treasure trove, and, as a result, is surrounded by fortresses.
Within a three-hour drive, you can visit mind-blowing Mayan archaeological sites and biospheres such as Edzná, Calakmul, and Balakmu, the easygoing fishermen’s village of Isla Arena, the pink flamingos in Celestún, and the cenote in Miguel Colorado.
Leave the crowds behind this holiday season and give yourself the gift of a vacation in Mexico’s many off-the-beaten-path treasures.
Aviation News
JetBlue Is Bringing Cheap Flights to Paris
Travelers looking for cheap flights to Europe got a dose of good news. JetBlue recently announced its launching of new routes from the East Coast to Paris in summer 2023. The airline plans to first launch flights to Paris from its home base in New York flying nonstop from John F. Kennedy International into Paris’s Charles de Gaulle. JetBlue also plans to add nonstop flights from Boston Logan International to Charles de Gaulle. With the debut of its Paris flights, JetBlue will mark its second transatlantic destination. In 2021 it introduced much-anticipated routes to London also from New York and Boston.
The market for flights between the U.S. and France is the second biggest in the world, and France is on track to see 75,000,000 tourists by the end of 2022. Although prices haven’t been released yet, fares on the airline’s route from New York to London typically start at around US$599 round-trip for regular economy. The airline is the U.S.’s sixth largest carrier. Tickets for the new Paris flights will go on sale in the coming months.
Deal of The Week
Now Open—The All-New Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya
‘Tis the Season to Save—Save up to 20%
The adults-only Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya is located a mere six miles from Playa del Carmen, in the secluded region of Riviera Maya, with easy access to the Cancun International Airport. Set beside the crystal-clear Caribbean Sea on a sprawling, sugar-white sand beach, this breathtaking oceanfront resort welcomes you to savor the moment in a modern hacienda-style retreat elevated by Hyatt’s renowned all-inclusive luxury.
Book by December 30, 2022—Travel by May 31, 2024
✓ Nine restaurants, bars, and lounges
✓ Premium top-shelf wines and liquors
✓ Sophisticated suites with 24-hour room service and private balconies
✓ Expansive, white-sand beach
✓ Sprawling ocean-view pool with an adjacent hot tub
✓ Non-motorized watersports
✓ Unique activities, such as aqua cycling, cooking demos, and fun group sports such as beach volleyball
✓ Live music and culturally-inspired nightly performances
✓ Free Wi-Fi throughout the resort
At Hyatt, we’ve elevated the all-inclusive vacation to a new standard of luxury and service. With Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva, you enjoy worry-free indulgence with the confidence in your choice that only the legendary Hyatt brand can deliver.
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 each 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.
Sources: Condé Nast Traveler, JetBlue, and Resorts by Hyatt
