Reading room: the Taschen Library at the Trump Soho Hotel in New York City.
By Mark Chesnut
Sure, ebooks have made it easier for travelers to bring all the reading material they need when on the road. But a growing number of luxury hotels have introduced their own stylish collection of coffee table books and even business books — so whether you’re planning a Mexico vacation or hopping among New York hotels, you can find a worthy alternative to that well-traveled iPad. (more…)
The haunting skies above the Misty Fjords make a perfect day trip. Credit: controltheweb.
By Rich Mahoney
One of the best perks of cruising is the view as you sail into incredible destinations like Alaska, Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico and Bermuda. While the stunning scenery is great from the boat, shore excursions allow you to experience those unique and stunning locations first hand. From thrilling adventures like off-roading and zip-lining to wildlife tours and snorkeling, shore excursions help build the lasting memories and stories to pair with those million-dollar views. (more…)
Tear yourself away from the luxe Ritz-Carlton Cancun and enjoy Cancun's carnival from Feb. 15 to 22.
By Erin Behan
Visitors to Cancun often don’t make it beyond the hotel strip — the snow white sand, turquoise blue waters and mild year-round temperatures probably have something to do with it — but downtown Cancun should not be missed for its dose of local culture and inexpensive yet authentic cuisine. Come February, there’s one more reason to leave your Cancun hotel and head to the town center and explore: the town’s spirited, colorful carnival. (more…)
Yucatan rejuvenation: All-inclusive vacations get spiritual with the ancient Maya ritual of temazcal.
By Blane Bachelor
Just a few weeks into 2012, the travel industry is abuzz with packages and deals to celebrate the much-hyped end of the Maya Long Count calendar. One resort offering that promises authenticity – and, as a complimentary amenity, affordability too – is a version of the traditional Mayan ritual of temazcal.
This spiritual, cleansing ceremony is offered complimentary to guests at two AMResorts, whose properties have set the standard for all-inclusive vacations with their spot-on amenities. (more…)
Off with the cap and on with the helmet! Your visit to Chankanaab will be decidedly less hurried. Credit: Courtesy of Cozumel Municipal Governmen.
By Amy Drew Thompson
Think about a Mexican getaway, and the pervasive imagery generally includes white sand and blue water – perhaps Mariachis. Throw in a good bottle of tequila and I’ll race you to the airport. But for some travelers to Cozumel hotels, additional concerns arise: bike maintenance, bathing caps, whether their toenails have grown back since the last race.
Carnaval, Mexican-style: Parades and partying with the locals. Credit: Arantxa.
By Blane Bachelor
Celebrating Carnaval doesn’t have to mean crossing the globe to join the renowned revelry in Rio or Venice. Just over the border in Mexico, Carnaval (as the pre-Lenten festival is known in Spanish) is worthy of a trip in itself – especially in Cozumel, which boasts one of the country’s best bashes. Taking place from Feb. 15-22 this year, Carnaval in Cozumel is an island-wide fiesta of parades and partying, with plenty of Cozumel hotels getting in on the fun.
Cozumel connection: Technophiles will soon roam free on the seafront in every sense of the word.
By Amy Drew Thompson
Cozumel’s mayor, Aurelio Joaquín González, has announced that its downtown seafront area will soon have free Wi-Fi Internet service for locals and visitors. In fact, Telmex is already hard at work on infrastructure, getting the technology in place to be ready by year’s end. What does it mean? Guests at Cozumel hotels traveling with laptops, tablets and Wi-Fi-enabled phones — from the Punta Langosta cruise terminal to the downtown plaza and all along the shoreline — will have Internet access.
Merrymaking + mariachis: Our Lady of Guadalupe Festivals feature Mexican music. Credit: Poncho Equihua.
By Blane Bachelor
Most tourists know Cozumel, Mexico, as an island utopia with an abundance of diving and snorkeling along miles of azure coastline. But visitors around the holidays can get firsthand appreciation of a lesser-known but equally remarkable experience on Cozumel: the Our Lady of Guadalupe Festival, or in Spanish, La Fiesta de la Virgen de Guadalupe, which kicks off Dec. 6 in honor of Mexico’s beloved patron saint. A bonus for travelers: Many Cozumel hotels join in the celebrations, with employees — and guests — encouraged to participate in the processions and parades. (more…)
Date night 2012: Rosewood Mayakoba's Agave Azul Library awaits eager palates. Credit: Joaquin Duenas.
By Amy Drew Thompson
Some interpret that the ancient Mayan calendar, astonishingly accurate over millennia thus far, predicts the world will end in 2012. I say if you can’t beat ʼem — join ʼem. And go properly anesthetized. In that same spirit, many Riviera Maya hotels are well poised to usher guests into divine oblivion via the prized nectar of the agave: Tequila.
More than a museum: the award-winning 21C Museum Hotel in Louisville, Ky.
By Mark Chesnut
The Elysian Hotel Chicago may have been voted the No. 1 hotel in the United States in the 2011 Conde Nast Traveler’s Reader’s Choice Awards. But that Windy City oasis of cool is, of course, just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to award-winning hotels around this hemisphere. After poring over countless awards including the Conde Nast Traveler Gold List, Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards and the AAA Five Diamond Award, we’ve cobbled together a list of five additional hotels that should be on every traveler’s itinerary wish list. (more…)
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