Taking a luxury tour to Playa del Carmen and then Cozumel – booked through MyCancunTours.com http://twitpic.com/1x9d1t

Hmmm… I haven’t yet figured out what was luxury about this tour but it was still fun.  We were picked up at our resort, Le Meridian in Cancun at 8 am by a large well air conditioned bus with very comfortable seating.  We had been the last stop apparently, as our next stop was merely to transfer to our next bus, going to Playa del Carmen.

There wasn’t much of a view on the highway between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen.  A 45 minute drive on a very chilled, comfortable bus, our guide explained in both Spanish and English that we would be catching a ferry in Playa del Carmen to Cozumel, and then boarding bottomless boats and taken out to various reef spots around the island for snorkeling and photo opps.  After this, we would be enjoying a lunch at Miguel’s Grill with the rest of our tour group and were free to explore the island for shopping or scooter rides before the ferry back to Playa del Carmen and the bus ride back to Cancun.  We of course ditched the tour for the ride home- a plan we had prearranged with the tour company so we could stay in Cozumel for 4 days and then return to Cancun.

Itza Chichen in Chichen Itza – or maybe Itza Chicken…. driving 2.5 hours from Cancun to Chichen Itza to see Mayaland http://twitpic.com/1wj5i9 was a great idea!

As long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to see the pyramids at Chichen Itza.  When I moved to Mexico, I remember being disappointed that the Yucatan was so far away.  A day is possibly enough time to see the entire park, but I would say it is well worth it to book a room, or private villa at Mayaland hotel.   A guide can be hired for a private tour of the ruins at the front desk.  $60 an hour, and the tour runs around 2.5 to 3 hours.

The history of the ruins is complex and a guide can explain far more than the booklets for sale in the souvenir shop. I would definitely recommend taking advantage of a private guide, even if you decide to tour the grounds on your own again afterward.  The most famous structure in the park is of course the larger than life pyramid, but as we learned from our guide, there are more than 350 ruin “mounds” in the area, and a number of well preserved temples, wells, shrines, houses, and even an observatory which can be seen from the grandeur foyer of the hotel at just about any angle.

There are several exotic hotels at Chichen Itza, but Mayaland is located directly on the ruins.  Nonstop bird calls, majestic trees and palms, and impressive gardens surround the hotel and their many private bungalows and villas.  Peacocks roam freely around the hotel grounds, and even IN the hotel, just adding to the exotic feel of Mayaland. The food, is absolutely fabulous and the service is even better.  Our waiter was a charming gentleman, Francisco, who spoke 5 languages including his mother tongue, Mayan – which he patiently gave us a lesson in.

Recommendations for visiting Chichen Itza:

Bring a good camera, wear light clothes that can handle the humidity and heat, and don’t forget the sunblock.  Insects were not a problem until the evening but definitely bring bug spray or purchase some in the souvenir shop located on the grounds.

Shopping is available in the hotel, in the park itself on the walk from the pyramid to the well, and in the Mayan marketplace.  Bring small change for shopping and remember when purchasing, that certain souvenirs made with live plants and or seeds, will not be allowed through customs.  There are plenty of masks, a pyramid statues for purchase but a popular item are custom necklaces which take an hour to be made.  If you intend to purchase one of these, do so well before the stores close.

If you can, bring a change of clothes if you come on a day trip this time of year.  Heavy humidity, heat, and rainstorms can be an issue- but still worth the visit!

My Chichen Itza road trip from Cancun took less than 3 hours, including a quick lunch break.   After speaking with the concierge at Le Meridian resort and spa where I’m staying, I decided to skip on the tour bus option and rent a car for the trip.  I was told it would take 2 to 3 hours to drive from Cancun’s hotel zone to Chichen Itza and that it was a perfectly safe drive.  They were right, and I would even classify the drive as “scenic.”

There are not a lot of gas stations on this drive, but one well over 100 kilometers from Cancun, that also has a number of convenience stores, and a cafe that had really great tamales.

Tolls on the highway from Cancun to Chichen Itza: There were 2 toll stops on the trip to Chichen Itza.  One was about $22 USD and the other was about $5 USD.  We stopped at the tourist information center located at the first toll stop where we talked to a helpful man working for a tour company.  After answering our questions, giving us free maps and information about Chichen Itza, we inquired about pricing and tours they offered.  We happily purchased a package from them for $30 usd each that included tickets to the archeological park at Chichen Itza, parking, lunch for 2 at the Mayaland hotel, and a 10% shopping discount.  A significant discount, but also a time saver- we drove the last 30 minutes to Chichen Itza and went right to the park.

One of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my life, I see why Chichen Itza has been declared one of the New 7 Wonder of the World.

Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing more on my trip to the Yucatan and photos of the Chichen Itza ruins.

Cancun – Isla Mujeres:  Today we headed off to the infamous Isla Mujeres.

Getting to Isla Mujeres was pretty simple.  A taxi from Le Meridian in the hotel zone  to the ferry port was about $22 USD and a round trip ferry ride ran about $20 USD and took only 15 minutes.   The ride was rather easy, although if the winds were up, I would advise dramamine for those who suffer from sea sickness.

I have to admit,  I was not expecting the island to be so… incredible.  Just a few miles from Cancun, I suppose I expected Isla Mujeres to be more Cancun-ish.  Instead, the grassy cliffs and dark tide pools reminded me of photos from the northeast coast of the states.  The beaches of Isla Mujeres were what set it apart- tranquil, crystal clear turquoise waters and white sand beaches.

Immediately after docking, there is a long strip of restaurants on the beach.  We were starving and tempted to stop, but that’ll teach us to leave the hotel so late.  We didn’t have much daylight left and decided to see as much of the islands as we could.  We tossed a coin and decided to rent a golf cart as our mode of transportation around the island.  Just over $60 USD for a few hours, we were off and racing.  Well, I may be using the word “racing” a little lightly- I’m pretty sure the max speed of our golf cart was around 5 mph and even slow walking grandmas were passing us on the sidewalk.  We laughed hysterically for 2 solid hours… drove to the ruins at one end of the island, past the yachts and the turtle farm, and to the other side where we crossed over a rickety bridge surrounded by locals swimming in a postcard setting.  When we finally, and regretfully, returned our golf cart, we took a taxi to Sunset restaurant to catch the sunset.  It was $200 pesos for the beachfront table, but I’m pretty sure the unobstructed view of a firey red sunset was worth it.

Recommendations for visiting Isla Mujeres:

Arrive earlier than we did. Surprisingly, there’s a lot to see and the golf cart and scooter rentals, are not fast enough to see the island in 2 hours!

Bring swimwear if you want to swim, but definitely bring sun protection; hats, sunblock, or a full fledged umbrella with fringes- whatever works for you.

Bring small change for tipping and shopping.  Souvenirs are for sale along the beach and in shops around the island but change is not always easy to come by.

Come hungry.  The food is fantastic and the service is friendly.  I would definitely recommend the Sunset restaurant we went to, but food options are in abundance on the island.

The Grand Venetian and Palazzo Hotel- possibly the most impressive hotel I’ve seen in Las Vegas. That’s saying a lot, when you consider the impressive structures lining the Las Vegas Strip.

My overall impression and recommendations: Shop here, enjoy the charming gondola rides, marvel at the talented opera singers amidst the Canal Shop Square… then stay elsewhere. I checked out of the hotel nearly a week ago and I’m still spending a few hours a day trying to get out of $5400+ in duplicate charges for my $1600 hotel bill. No, I’m not joking. My billing was not only screwed up multiple times, but Rudy in their billing department has little concern for the matter. Honestly, I’m not bitter. It’s been so ridiculous, I’ve resorted to actually laughing about it! In the meantime, I’m thankful for Chase Bank, and their amazing ability to match the numbers on hotel statements with bank charges, which the Venetian can’t seem to do.

If you do plan on staying at the Venetian, here’s my advice- use only ONE credit card and make sure they offer super spectacular consumer protection. When you check out, opt out of express check out and get a statement you can triple check for duplicate billing (or triplicate billing in my case.) And finally, be sure and check your bank activity over the next few days- I was charged again for another $1,280+ 2 days after checking out of the hotel.

The Venetian Hotel and Casino:
Billing disasters aside, the Venetian was beautiful, with an unbeatable atmosphere starting with an elaborate foyer and grand hallway. I’m a sucker for musicians and beautiful fountains in the entry you know. Be sure and watch your step coming from the front desk, you don’t want to trip over the line of tourists taking photos along the way to their rooms.

The Venetian Hotel Rooms
The Venetian is a true all-suite, luxury Las Vegas hotel. Their rooms are anything but ordinary with sunken living areas, luxury linens, multiple flat screens and huge bathrooms complete with over sized marble tubs. Everything you could possibly need, including a weight-censored minibar to alert staff for quick refills. If you need an extra bed in your room, come early- these are first come, first serve with limited availability. They’re also only available up to the 12th floor- just an fyi for those of you who like to high views of the strip. Humidifiers are available, and just about any toiletry you left behind. Quick note though, bring your own blow dryer; they’ve stocked bottom of the line, frizz-causing conair hair dryers with no cool button. So close to being the perfect accommodations! 2 large flat screens with disappointing channels but plenty of movies to rent (coincidence? I think not! I like movies anyway.) I really appreciated the in room multitask printers; trips to the business center weren’t even necessary. My favorite amenity at this hotel- FREE WIFI – only at the Las Vegas Venetian!

As impressive as your room may be, you won’t want to waste time seeing more of this hotel. A quick stroll brings you to the Canal Shops. Expect to gawk- the Venetian has one of the most incredible shopping areas I’ve ever seen, anywhere. Upscale shops in Venetian style facades around the indoor canals, complete with gondoliers passing by. Gondolier rides are available for $15 per person and it seemed the average appointment was an hour’s wait. Venetian hotel guests are given “buy one, get one half off” gondola ride coupons. If you want a cute keepsake, the gondola rides have photographers on hand and plenty of framing options. I’ll admit, I left with a few 5 x 8′s in a silly Venetian paper frame, a keychain photo, and a few in magnets. Hey, my grandmother loved them! The shopping… oh the shopping… I hit Burberry, Coach, Kenneth Cole, Anne Taylor, Brighten and several others. There’s even a Barneys New York tucked between the Venetian and the Palazzo. If you’re a shopper, go nuts! Just remember almost all of these shops are at the Las Vegas Premium Outlet Mall offering significant discounts.

The Venetian Staff:
Professional doormen, courteous front desk, and helpful concierge staff. The gentlemen working the transportation area always have a smile on their face and are happy to offer advice and directions. The Venetian offers great customer service in their hotel. Their billing department… well, maybe they’re overworked.

Happiest Buddha Ever!

A man came to my door this morning, riding a bicycle with a bucket hanging off the handlebar.  He very kindly, asked if he could wash my Grand Jeep Cherokee.  When I hesitated to assess how dirty it was, he quickly added, “Please, I need to eat.”   It brought tears to my eyes.  I agreed, immediately, giving him everything I had in my wallet when he was finished.

It made me think.  I’ve always been an overly generous individual, even when I couldn’t afford to be.  Now, I can afford to give quite a lot, and I do.  My mother, a huge Oprah fan, had brought this up while we were in Vegas this week:  “Oprah says the more she gives the more that comes back to her and that she just can’t give it away fast enough.  I think this is why you have become so successful.  You have always done the same thing.”   It makes you wonder, doesn’t it?  Is this the reason I’m making 7 figures this year for doing next to nothing, aside from traveling around and having fun?  I help friends who need money.  I help strangers who need food.  I help family members who aren’t even my family members.  I ask nothing in return, but I do this out of complete selfishness- giving makes me feel good.

I’m in the process of planning a spa vacation to San Francisco for next month.  The Brilliant Society, (all my girlfriends from Rutgers) were looking over the various spa options in and around San Fran and Napa Valley.  One of the destinations we had our eye on was the Calistoga Ranch, an ultra exclusive spa getaway only an hour away from San Francisco and offering just about everything you could possibly want.  The price tag…. $17,000.   I’ll admit, this was still a consideration until this morning.  Now however, I think I’ll stick to my beloved Westin or St. Regis for about half the price and give a little (ok, a lot) extra to charitable causes this month.

Anyway… San Francisco already has me excited.  5 girls, from all over the country (and me from Puerto Vallarta) hitting the spa for a week or so.  I can’t wait!

I moved to Puerto Vallarta from the U.S. almost 2 years ago and it has been quite the experience. I’m planning to move to Cabo in a few months, which got me to thinking… “if I’d known then what I know now…” Well, it certainly would have made the move easier. So here are a few of my tips for moving to Puerto Vallarta:

Tips for moving to Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico from the United States.

A few things I wish I’d brought when moving to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico:

Electronics, books, and computer software. Electronics are easily double or triple the price in the US. This includes computers and pc accessories, cell phones, stereos, TV’s, etc. Even paying for shipping, you will save a significant amount of money compared to the price of purchasing new electronic equipment in Puerto Vallarta.

Books and magazines in English- Shape magazine is $9… if you can find it. Books are nearly impossible to find.

Software- really expensive, hard to find, or pirated copies poorly disguised as the real thing. Really best to purchase before moving.

I also wish I would have brought a dehumidifier- they are impossible to find here but you will be grateful if you have one. I lost an entire closet of designer clothing to mildew, even with the moisture absorbers.

Cosmetics and beauty products. Quality American cosmetics and beauty products are not available in Puerto Vallarta. Occasionally you will luck out and find Neutrogena, but it’s possible that was a one time occurrence. For example: Walmart now carries a few John Freida products- never more than 5 or 6 on the shelf and it sometimes takes a month for restocking. Also, keep in mind that most beauty products here are stocked with locals in mind- if you’re looking for blonde hair dye, you won’t find it easily!

Linens here are stiff and hard. If you’re used to top of the line Egyptian Cotton, bring it with you!

Furniture in Puerto Vallarta is almost always hard and uncomfortable; beds, chairs, sofas- all worth importing or plan a trip to Guadalajara for furniture shopping.

And finally, a car. I purchased a Jeep Cherokee here for about $2,000 more than it would have been in the states… and this was after they came down on the price! If you can drive a car or have it brought down, it’s worth it. Depending on the year of the vehicle, you will have to pay an import fee and register it here, but this with the price of the trip will still be less than if you buy something locally. If you must purchase your car here, try have a local friend help you out- they’ll know where to take the car to have it checked out, what questions to ask regarding import/registration fees already paid, and of course, help lower the price.

What I could have left behind in my move to Puerto Vallarta:

What I could have left are most of my designer clothing and high heels- cobblestone streets ruin shoes and humidity eats fine fabrics. It’s not uncommon to go to your closet and pull out a shirt with mildew on it after even a week.

If you’re not too attached, there’s no need to bring decor items- the art scene here is one of the best in Latin America and plenty of international decor stores and boutiques.

Advice for preparing to move to Puerto Vallarta- about the actual move, choosing a neighborhood and finding a home?

There are a few neighborhood guides online, including on insidepv.com, with pictures and video of the areas. It’s relatively easy to choose where you want to be, because Puerto Vallarta is divided into 5 distinct areas- Marina Vallarta, The Hotel Zone, Centro (Downtown) , Old Town (Zona Romantica) , and Conchas Chinas to Mismaloya area which covers the crescent beaches that stretch south of Puerto Vallarta.

The marina is pricey, surrounded by a golf course and yacht slips, fine dining and art galleries.

The hotel zone is a strip of resorts and modern shopping centers. These two areas resemble southern California or Florida.

Centro is downtown Puerto Vallarta where the famous malecon (boardwalk) is located- loud, popular with tourists, fast paced.

Old Town Puerto Vallarta is slower paced, trendy, more traditional with cobblestone streets, residences, bars/clubs, and endless boutiques- this is also the popular gay area and has become quite stylish.

Conchas Chinas to Mismaloya is the area south of Puerto Vallarta. Known for the “crescent beaches” this area is lush in tropical foliage and lined with villas and luxury condominiums overlooking private beaches and the ocean.

We’re in the process of adding videos and photos of each of these areas but some are already posted in the photos and videos section of Inside PV.

What I miss after moving to Puerto Vallarta:

What I wouldn’t give for mayonnaise without lime in it, crunchy peanut butter, and organized grocery stores.

Things to expect if you move to Puerto Vallarta:
When the phone company says they’ll be there Thursday, notice they didn’t say which week. If they said before noon, notice they didn’t say which day. When they don’t show, don’t be surprised when they say, “We had to reschedule” even though they never let you know. In other words- expect no schedules, poor customer service, and a very relaxed attitude regarding matters you thought were important. For most of us, it doesn’t take long to get used to.

Tipping- grocery store bag boys will count the tip you hand them before thanking you. In the states, this would be considered extremely rude- here, I find it amusing and cute. Go figure. Taxi drivers, bartenders, and waiters too will do this, although not in fine dining restaurants such as La Palapa and Cafe des Artistes where the staff actually take courses to learn American culture (as well as about fine wines, cigars, presentation and English.)

Things that will shock you for the first six months:
Chickens and other farm animals on buses. Bus drivers that stop in the middle of their route to do their grocery shopping (leaving passengers waiting patiently on the bus.) Naked mannequins getting into bed in a department store window display for Valentine’s Day. Oh, you know what, this could take a while. I think I’ll make thise one a whole new article!

Things That Will Shock You for the First 6 Months of Living in Puerto Vallarta

Chickens and other farm animals on buses.

Bus drivers that stop in the middle of their route to do their grocery shopping (leaving passengers waiting patiently on the bus.)

Naked mannequins getting into bed in a department store window display for Valentine’s Day.

Grocery shopping: Buying eggs in a bag- I still plop them on the counter, forgetting they’re not in a carton. Mayonnaise mixed with lime- the only mayonnaise you can get here. No crunchy peanut butter and only one brand of regular peanut butter in the Puerto Vallarta grocery stores. Pudding is not kept with Jello. Prices for products in the “American Section” are twice as much as 2 aisles over. The same product is located in 4 different places throughout the store- all with different prices.

The price for a taxi is $5 dollars cheaper when you ask in Spanish.

Go to walmart to buy a frying pan- they have 40 of the same 1. You ask the salesperson when they will get more and he says “next year.”

Geckos walking around your living room. Leave them alone- they eat mosquitoes. Gecko Warning: They like sugary cereals, so keep it in tupperware or you’ll have a bowl of Frosted Gecko cereal.

The bus will take a “shortcut” to avoid traffic… causing you to miss your stop.

In downtown Puerto Vallarta, the local funeral home closes off one of the busiest streets (the street that directly turns onto the highway) near the malecon so the grieving family can sit out in the street in plastic white chairs. Thousands of buses, cars, etc are backed up, and quietly and respectfully detour around the street.

Milk – Puerto Vallarta has two kinds of milk- regular and light. Light tastes like 2% in the states and they don’t have it everyday.

Television: A preview plays for the exact movie/show you’re watching, during it’s own commercial break. The same 4 shows play back to back for a 24 hour period. The same episode of Everybody Loves Raymond plays for 3 months.

Don’t be surprised if you’re standing in a grocery store line and a lady passes you her baby while she fishes around in her purse to pay. Likewise- locals think nothing of picking up a child or baby that is not theirs. I almost fell over when I went to a soccer game and one of the players came over and handed me an 8 month baby boy to watch while he played!

A local taco stand also sells bras and key chains.

Mexican home remedies offered by my husband’s 90+ year old Mexican grandmother: A boiled avocado pit is the local aspirin. Spit on the feet, wrap in socks when you have a cold. Bronchitis or flu- massage. Baking soda, lime, salt mixed are used instead of alkaseltzer.

Traditional Mexican foods the locals eat here: Instead of spaghetti sauce, the locals like to mix their pasta with mayonnaise (BLEH!) Corn with mayo is another favorite.

Old milk is not thrown away- when it’s good and rotten, they mix it up like cottage cheese and eat it- it has a name which I’ll write as it’s pronounced rather than massacre the spelling: ho-ko-kee.

Pizza is topped with ketchup.

Sushi is served with jalepenos soaked in soy sauce instead of wasabi. Or… served with salsa and a tortilla. Yep, it’s happened.

Around Halloween, they put 2 or 3 pumpkins out at the store for Americans to buy and mark them “Halloween” so they’re not bought to eat by the locals.

The local chihuahuas walking down the beach wearing heavy turquoise jewelry.

Very, very large European men in Burberry bikini bottoms sunning on the beach. With or without rear end implants.

A Thanksgiving Turkey is $80 USD. A can of Cranberry sauce is $4 USD. A pint of ice cream is $8 USD.

Hotel Vallarta Torre is a deluxe fully appointed one bedroom suite property in a resort setting overlooking Banderas Bay in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The resort is within walking distance to many fine restaurants, shopping and nightlife.

Vallarta Torre