Orbitz travel expert, Lena Katz, explains the significance and allure of the Mexican holiday of Dia de Los Muertos, otherwise known as Day of the Dead.
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Articles for ‘Mexico Vacation’ Category
Orbitz blogger gives E! travel tips on Day of the Dead in Mexico
Monday, November 2nd, 2009Mexico travel: The inside scoop on Dia de Los Muertos
Friday, October 30th, 2009By Lena Katz
Sugar Skulls for sale at a Marketplace in Oaxaca (Courtesy of the Mexico Tourism Board)
Snack on sugar skeleton, picnic in a cemetery, party in a mummy museum, and build an altar to the dearly departed right in your foyer. While all these ideas might shock you, they’re beloved holiday traditions south of the border. November 1 marks Dia de Los Muertos, the famous Day of the Dead holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and in U.S. cities with a large Hispanic population. Drawing from Roman Catholic Spanish traditions and pre-Colombian rituals, this annual holiday is a time to remember and honor the deceased. It is an exotic and eccentric holiday, but not a scary one, despite all the skeletons on every corner. In the places that really celebrate, street corners and shops display countless homemade altars, while the church steps and sidewalks flow with colorful flower petals and candles.
If there is an epicenter for Dia de Los Muertos celebrations, it might be the tiny island of Janitzio in Lake Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico. Indigenous pre-Colombian people believed Lake Patzcuaro might be the doorway to heaven. People have traditionally made pilgrimage to this island each year to observe Dia de Los Muertos through prayer, offerings and traditional dance. (more…)
Top 10 Labor Day weekend vacation destinations
Monday, August 24th, 2009
If you want to ditch the backyard bbq and have a travel adventure this Labor Day weekend, we have good news. Average hotel rates are lower than last year, so pack your bags and take advantage of the top 10 Labor Day travel deals.
Labor Day in Las Vegas
If you’d rather spend money on the slots than on a place to rest your head, rejoice in knowing that Las Vegas hotels are number one on the 2009 Orbitz Insider Index. The average Las Vegas hotel rate this Labor Day is $108, down $28 from last year.
Labor Day is just another excuse to party in Las Vegas. For the best in the club scene, check out PURE, LAX and Christian Audigier. Labor Day weekend is also jam packed with performances. Check out Zumanity, the “sensual side of Cirque du Soleil,” or Lance Burton, a Las Vegas master of magic.
Labor Day in New York City
With New York hotels an average of $54 cheaper than last year, New York City is a great place to spend Labor Day weekend. The first Labor Day Parade was held in New York City on September 5, 1882, and the parade tradition continues today. This year the parade will held on September 12, 2009, and will feature trade union members, high school bands, politicians, police and fire departments, and more.
Looking for other Labor Day weekend vacation ideas? The Orbitz Insider Index highlights the busiest destinations based on hotel bookings on Orbitz for September 4-7.
| Destination | Avg. Daily Rate 2009 | |
| 1. | Las Vegas, NV | $108 |
| 2. | New York, NY | $191 |
| 3. | Cancun, Mexico | $151 |
| 4. | Honolulu, HI | $111 |
| 5. | Chicago, IL | $127 |
| 6. | Atlanta, GA | $121 |
| 7. | San Francisco, CA | $142 |
| 8. | Seattle, WA | $118 |
| 9. | San Diego, CA | $195 |
| 10. | Paris, France | $164 |
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Special extras make all-inclusive vacations even better
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009By Lena Katz
“That chicken club sandwich cost $25 dollars? But it didn’t even have cheese on it!!” *Cue sputtering outrage.
Paradisus Palma Real
As anyone who’s ever had this reaction to a poolside lunch tab knows, a boatload of extra charges for beverage, food and activities can nearly sink the vacation vibe, particularly if you’re traveling with kids during a cash-strapped spell. That’s why so many people have turned to all-inclusive vacations these days…you pay upfront, and you know there won’t be a second reckoning at the end. Lately you may get even more than you expected, as so many of these beachside paradises are introducing new and innovative extras to improve the vacation experience.
The greatest example of this that I’ve seen is the Paradisus chain, an all-inclusive brand within the Melia family. For all the different room categories, one round of golf and one SCUBA dive per day are included in the package price. Paradisus properties tend to be on the large side, so for a slight price hop, Family Concierge and Royal Service programs give family or adult groups the extra personalized attention and perks they desire. For families, it’s kiddie amenities and snacks; for Royal adults, dry-cleaning and laundry service, private butlers and a business lounge with wireless access and other business amenities.
Mexico vacation spot an upscale, family-friendly destination
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009By Lena Katz
RIU Palace Pacifico All Inclusive
Just like the Riviera Maya separated from uber-developed Cancun, the Mexican Pacific coast north of the Nayarit state border is divorcing itself from overbuilt Puerto Vallarta to the south. And what does that mean to travelers? Many more beach hotels — many of them self-contained and/or all-inclusive resorts. More golf courses, more marinas, more spas, all competing for your vacation business. The Riviera Nayarit aims to be a more upscale, more family-friendly alternative to PV. As yet, it’s really just an annex — but still, if you’re looking for a relaxing Mexico vacation, this region’s got all sorts of options.
All-Inclusive for Families
Both the European-based RIU chain and the Mexican-owned Palace Hotels are great for family vacations on a budget. With hundreds of rooms and a half-dozen restaurants per property, these self-contained properties offer the package vacation experience: a week of sun, swimming, buffet dining and group activities for one up-front price. Three RIU properties in Nayarit offer a range of price points and experiences, and since all are located on Playa de Flamingos, guests staying in one property can enjoy certain privileges at the neighboring properties. Guests of the RIU Palace — which is the priciest of the three — can use all three hotel pools, and drink at any of the bars.
Top 10 Fourth of July vacation destinations
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
Parades, cookouts, fireworks — however you like to celebrate, the Fourth of July is the holiday of summer, and with the 4th falling on a Saturday this year, it's a great opportunity for a short summer vacation. Before you book your flights and hotels, check out these top picks based on Orbitz bookings for travel July 3-6:
Top 10 Fourth of July Vacation Destinations for 2009
1. Las Vegas: Las Vegas hotels — with their glitzy shows and gourmet restaurants — are popular year 'round, and it's no surprise that Vegas celebrates the Fourth in a big way. Check out a virtual fireworks show on the Viva Vision canopy at the Fremont Street Experience, or see the real thing — times nine — as nine different Stations Casinos properties display fireworks simultaneously.
2. Chicago: The Fourth of July is a great time to plan a summer vacation in Chicago. Taste of Chicago is in full swing, and you can take full advantage of the lakefront beaches. Chicago's official Fourth of July fireworks take place on July 3 over the lake by Grant Park.
3. New York: Book your New York hotel now and plan to enjoy the Big Apple's Fourth of July fireworks display over the Hudson River. Here are the recommended spots for best views of the fireworks.
Mexico vacations: Cabo parties, Tequila and other fond memories
Monday, June 15th, 2009
By Lena Katz
At last count, I had roughly 1 zillion Mexico vacation deals and Caribbean all-inclusive sales and Hawaii hotel packages in my files for summer 2009. And that’s a great thing…I mean, who doesn’t love a good deal, especially in times like these? But it got me thinking. What stands out in my memory when I consider all the vacations gone by is not “Wow, I got a great rate!” but rather, “I remember that moment. And that one. And OMG, I hope nobody still has the YouTube video of that one time…” So for this month’s Mexico column, I am not going to expound on the deals they’re offering — which are absolutely outstanding — or the trials the country has gone through — which break my heart — but rather, some of my favorite memories from 20 years of Mexico vacations.
1. I never understood what the Cancun fuss was about till I saw the beach at the ME by Melia Cancun at sunset. The sand is thick and creamy gold, the waves have extra-strength foam, the beach itself seems to stretch on and on forever…and
at sunset, the sky turns all shades of pink and blue. All you can do is
stand there and gape. I love the ME’s ocean-fronting terrace, love the
fountains that play out their hourly dance…but my favorite thing to do
is ride the elevator all the way up to the beginning of the penthouse suites, where nearly the entire ocean-facing wall is glass, and get a birds-eye view of the whole spectacle.
Airlines reduce flights to Mexico
Friday, May 22nd, 2009
By Joe Brancatelli
HOTEL HOT SHEET
Recession Be Damned. The New Properties Keep Opening: The number of new hotels opening would be overwhelming even if the economy were still roaring along. Now it just seems, well, chaotic. But here we go.
- Hilton has opened a new 175-suite Embassy Suites in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, and a 135-room Hilton Garden Inn in Suffolk, Virginia.
- Marriott has opened a 118-room Fairfield Inn in Schertz, in suburban San Antonio.
- Starwood has opened side-by-side properties in Arundel Mills, Maryland. One is a 147-room Element and the other is a 142-room Aloft hotel. It has also added a 91-room W Hotel in Doha, Qatar.
- Overseas, citizenM, a prefab, high-tech hotel concept, has opened its second property. The 215-room hotel in Amsterdam's financial district complements the original citizenM, located within walking distance of the passenger terminals at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.
- Kempinski has opened a 98-room lakefront resort in the High Tatras Mountains of Slovakia.
- Marriott has opened a 118-room Renaissance hotel in Paris near the Eiffel Tower.
Food festivals add spice to summer vacation
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
By Lena Katz
From sea to shining sea, America’s getting ready to celebrate all that tastes great this summer. Whether you’re in the market for a Hawaii vacation, an East Coast summer home or a quick family-friendly hop to a Tampa hotel, an awesome array of food festivals will add extra flavor to your holiday. Here are my top 10 picks for 2009.
In the Pacific Northwest, Bite of Oregon August 7-9 showcases organic/sustainable produce, great seafood, and craft beer — the latter in the brand-new Oregon Brewed Craft Beer Garden. And may we just say…it’s about time? Oenophiles note, Oregon’s Willamette Valley wine region may well be the wine snobs’ next “it” place — so don’t just sip, take notes!
Down south, the LA Wine Fest June 6-7 showcases primarily California Central Coast and Napa wineries, with contingents from the Loire Valley and Australia, as well as a number of boutique-label tequilas. In keeping with Los Angeles “get ready for your closeup” mentality, the festival includes “lifestyles” vendors like Italian gastronomy site AcademiaBarilla.com, but very little in the way of actual food.
Top beach vacations for adventure seekers
Monday, May 11th, 2009
By Lena Katz
Sunken treasure. Sea caves. Cliff diving. Big game fishing. A summertime beach vacation includes so much more than the quest for the perfect tan these days. From the Caribbean to the Gulf of Mexico to the South Seas, there are countless adventures to be had…for Dad’s Day, a post-graduation getaway, or a summer vacation you’ll remember forever.
Key West treasure hunt
Point your compass toward Key West, where Atocha Dive Adventures is leading certified divers out to salvage dive a real Spanish galleon. Instructors are not only professional salvage experts; some of them are actually related to Mel Fisher, the most famous treasure hunter of the modern age. Fisher discovered the Atocha in 1985 and took a cool $400 million off it in his time.