Should I worry about Passports?
Canadian citizens are advised to acquire a valid passport. Considering recent world events, many countries may not continue to accept just a birth certificate and photo identification. At this point, however, most of the sunny destinations serviced from Toronto require only a birth certificate and an approved photo identification for Canadian citizens entering the country. Examples of countries that now accept just these documents are the U.S.A., Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Barbados, Jamaica, Antigua, and St. Lucia. If you do not have a birth certificate or photo identification, you will be required to visit a lawyer and swear an affidavit before you can enter. Among countries that require a valid passport are Cuba, Venezuela, and Colombia.
Should I stay at an All Inclusive resort?
We all know that you get only what you pay for. First, if you stay at a 3 star hotel, you will likely complain continually, so we don't recommend that you stay at a 3 star. Any 4 star all-inclusive is normally a good deal provided you remain at the resort and just enjoy the drinks and the meals there. Of course, if you take tours and go to night clubs or whatever, you'll spend a lot more, so all-inclusive might not then be the best choice. The Mayan Riviera, just south of Cancun, is a good example. The resorts there are beautiful, but the resort is isolated and far away from town. It is often crowded, and you might get tired of the crowds, but it would cost you money to take a taxi to Cancun or Playa Del Carman to attend the clubs. So it really depends on your lifestyle. If you simply want to stay put and relax, and just drink and eat, then all-inclusive is the way to go. But if you like to tour and visit different places, then all-inclusive will cost you more than a nice hotel without meals.
What is your Best Seller?
Right now, Mexico. Cancun and the Mayan Riviera are by far the number one destinations from Toronto, followed by Cuba and the Dominican Republic, and then by the rest of the Caribbean. I have spent a lot of time in Cancun and visited most of the hotels in Cancun and many in the Mayan Riviera - Playa Del Carman corridor, so I can answer questions you may have about these places.
Should I drink the water?
No. You should drink either bottled water or juice or other beverage. You don't need to be too concerned about vegetables and salads or ice cubes, because most places use purified water for washing food and preparing ice cubes and drinks.
Will I see many bugs?
No matter where you go, you'll likely see lots of bugs while you're on vacation. You may see the odd cockroach in your room, for example. I have seen some of the largest bugs in the best hotels. The largest caterpillar I ever saw was in the kitchen of a 5 star condominium in Hawaii. But hey! Bugs love 5 star hotels too.
What are some of your favorite places?
HAWAII is one, without a doubt. But if you go there, get out of Honolulu after three days. Either spend your time on the North Shore or go to Maui and Kauai to relax. And Hawaii isn't that expensive compared with other vacations. Airfare is normally around $900 Canadian, and you can get a hotel on the Internet for $85 - $100 US a night.
One of the funkiest places I stayed is Punte Bete, located 30-minute drive south of Cancun, 10 minutes north of Playa Del Carman, on the beach in small cabanas (huts). This place is right out of Gilligan's Island, with the thatched roof, palm trees, hammocks - the works, yet offers ceramic floors and tiled bathrooms with lots of hot water. The owner is the former chef from the Hilton Hotel in Cancun, and the meals are exquisite. Just before lunch, you'll see a local boy coming up from the beach with his snorkel gear and fish caught on the reef only minutes before, and then the chef will ask you which fish you'd like for lunch. A room costs about $45.00 U.S. per night. All cabanas come with either a queen or king bed, ceiling fan and mosquito netting. This place is not for everyone as it has no air conditioning or TV. To contact Helmut, go to the web site "www.mayan-riviera.com" and check out "Punte Bete", "bungalows". It is called "Coco Cabanas." I stayed there several times, and since Helmut has only 5 cabanas, the group is always small. You'll meet people there from all over. While there, I shared tales with a Superior Court Judge from Kansas and her husband, the owner of Joso's restaurant in Toronto and his family, an engineer from Italy and his wife, a doctor of psychology with his wife from Netherlands, and a bearded gentleman from France with his Irish wife. We all laughed a lot. And the sand - the beach is 4 miles long with hardly another person in sight.
How should I make telephone calls home?
Please, please, please don't use the phones in the hotels. They'll have signs saying that you pay only the regular rate, BUT you will get a bill with a "connection fee" of up to $6 US per minute of use. Either that, or the hotel will charge you up to 300% the local long distance rate. So simply buy phone cards from any corner store; the cards are very easy to use at any pay telephone.