Mexico: A Many Layered Land

Mexico is distinguished as a country of parallel realities,
countless contradictions and staggering disparities. It is a
country where ancient cultural tradition meets spring break
debauchery and mass consumer industry collides with indigenous
craft. Mexico's extraordinarily long and tumultuous history can
account for such modern juxtapositions, as highly developed
civilizations have inhabited the region for nearly 3,000 years.
The rise and fall of great societies, particularly before
Spanish arrival, has enriched the country with fantastic legends
and lore that infiltrate every aspect of Mexico's art, design
and architecture. Hernán Cortés' Spanish conquest of the Aztec
(Mexica) capital in the 16th century resulted in a unique
superimposition of Spanish culture over indigenous heritage and
beliefs that can be identified everywhere in Mexico today.

Mexico's Advanced Ancient Age

The Yucatán Peninsula is an archeological goldmine. Situated on
the Gulf of Mexico's southern shore, the region was the center
of Mayan civilization throughout their rule. The extensive ruins
at Calakmul ("The City of Two Adjacent Pyramids") are some of
the most spectacular, embedded in the thick tropical forest of
the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve and best viewed from atop one of
the ancient city's pyramids. Just east of the peninsula,
Teotihuacán is the archeological site of ancient Mexico's
largest city and most unifying empire. By 200 A.D. this
metropolis was home to the third largest pyramid in the world,
the Pyramid of the Sun, with a total of 248 steps. The remains
of the Olmec, Teotihuacan, Mayan and Aztec Empires, along with
their surviving descendents, expose an intriguing ancient
history of advanced mathematics, astronomy, farming and
technology unknown to the rest of the world and largely
obliterated by European conquest and disease in the 16th century.

Solace in the Sand and Sun

Travel to Mexico to experience one of North America's most
popular vacation destinations, particularly during the winter. A
majority of Mexico is situated in the tropics, making weather
somewhat reliable and the months of July and August necessarily
avoidable, when temperatures may not drop below 90F at night.
Visit the year-round resort towns of Acapulco and Puerto
Vallarta along Mexico's Pacific coast and Cancun and Veracruz
along the warmer waters of the Gulf coast. The island of
Cozumel, just off the coast of Cancun, boasts some of the
world's best scuba diving and the surrounding sea is completely
protected as an underwater national park. Baja California, which
borders the Sea of Cortes and the Pacific, is an extremely
popular destination for surfers, sea kayakers and loungers
alike. Great waves, sea caves and the proximity of many
interesting locales intensifies the lure of this western
peninsula.

Time-Out Tijuana

Mexico's majesty lies south of the border. Move past the mental
images of Tijuana stereotypes and explore Mexico's grand urban
centers like Mexico City and Guadalajara. Put on a sombrero,
dance to a Mariachi band and sip the finest tequila on Earth
while exploring nearly 20,000 years of human history!

About the author:
For more information on international travel and href="http://www.cfares.com/mexico/">discount airfare to
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Finding a Quality Hotel in Mexico

Mexico: The Land of Beautiful Beaches and Margaritas

Mexico is one of the most visited places in the world. With its
warm hospitality, all inclusive resorts and great weather, it's
easy to see why. But, there are a million choices. If you've
never been, (or even if you have), how do you select the ideal
hotel in Mexico for your specific needs? Plus, how do you ensure
you will receive the level of quality that you're expecting? As
in many developing countries, there is a whole range of
different properties to choose from, some of which can be
limited in terms of modern conveniences they provide. But then
again, this may be exactly what you're looking for! Regardless,
here are some tips on how to find a quality hotel in Mexico and
advice on how you can ensure you are prepared as you search for
that perfect Mexico vacation getaway.

Doing it Right: The
Hotel Selection Process

Amenities, Price and Location. Those are the three most
important considerations as you plan your trip to Mexico and
book your hotel. And if you can plan far ahead, it just makes
things that much easier. So where do you start?

The Internet: Using online travel reservation services to
compare hotel amenities, prices and check reviews.

• If you have a certain hotel chain that you prefer, such as
  Marriott, check their website first for specials and discount
  rates. The top hotels will guarantee their rates as the lowest
  available. This gives you the security of knowing that you are
  getting the best price and are booking through a reputable
  source.
• Many hotels will offer vacation package deals
  which bundle your room with meals and other hotel amenities.
  Depending on your needs, this can be a great way to increase
  convenience and save some money.
• Check out property
  pictures, maps, and video clips from hotel websites.


• Find out how other travelers reviewed the property. This
  information can be found at various websites, such as
  http://www.epinions.com/ offer this.
• Check The Mexico
  Hotel Guide, TravelWeb, and PlacestoStay all of which have lots
  of independent hotel information.

Don't Pay Too Much! Look for the deals.

• If you have some flexibility, determine if
  they offer lower mid-week rates.
• A good way to find
  local hotels is to read travel bulletin boards and look for
  recommendations made by other travelers, such as those made on
  Tripadvisor.com.

Hotel Specific Issues

• How is their
  customer service history? Have they received positive ratings
  from independent organizations?
• If the hotel is part
  of an international franchise, find out how the chain rates this
  property within their organization.
• Is the hotel
  located in a safe part of the city or area?
• Is any
  major construction going on in the area that could impact your
  stay?
• Will there be any large groups at the Hotel
  during the time you want to go?
• Do they have a
  concierge, shuttle, laundry service or other extra service?
  
• Is one side of the hotel better than the other?


• Is public transportation located close by?
• What
  types of restaurants to they offer?
• Is there a fitness
  and aerobics room?
• What are the local attractions?


• Is this a new hotel or have they gone through a recent
  remodel?
• What is their cancellation policy?


• Do they offer smoking/nonsmoking rooms?
• Do they
  have agreements with airlines, rental car or other partners? You
  could benefit.
• Is the airport close to the hotel's
  location?

Other General Recommendations

• Be flexible if it's feasible for you. The hotel sets their
  prices by supply and demand, so it helps to know when the peak
  season is. If you don't know when the best rates are, just ask
  them.

• Frequent customers of chain hotels can register
  on the hotel's web site to save time and effort. By doing this,
  your hotel room preferences will be automatically included when
  you reserve your room.

• By calling the hotel
  directly, rather than the chains 800 number, you might get a
  room at the last minute, or during peak travel times. The front
  desk at the hotel are more hands on when it comes to the hotel's
  capacity and can check for cancellations or no-shows.

So there you have it, the best advice to finding your perfect
Mexico hotel! Keep in mind; there are many great hotels in all
areas of Mexico. From Cancun to Puerto Vallarta, there are
plenty of reputable hotels that you will want to return to again
and again. If worse comes to worse, use a reputable travel agent
to help you find a great hotel. They can remove the uncertainty
when it comes to selecting high quality accommodations.

Finally, enjoy your stay! Mexico awaits!

About the author:
This article was written by Jon Wuebben. Jon writes select
pieces about travel in Mexico for the CasaMagna Marriott Puerto
Vallarta Resort. -
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/PVRMX


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Naked Scuba Diving

Okay, for some people, the feeling of diving in nature with
nothing on is relaxing. For that reason, you will actually find
a number of naked scuba diving clubs consisting
of people who enjoy being free while in the water. Diving in the
nude is very exhilarating, allowing the water to caress the body
naturally. The number of people who enjoy naked scuba diving
would probably surprise you.

In addition to the great feeling that you get while diving nude,
there are also the safety considerations. For instance, some
subtropical and tropical waters have problems with sea lice that
become caught under clothing. The problem is that sea lice sting
and it hurts. However, sea lice do not cling to exposed skin,
which means people can scuba dive naked and not have to worry
about these annoying creatures. Keep in mind that it is
recommended body hair be trimmed or shaved.

Additionally, naked scuba diving also helps the
diver to become better aware of the underwater environment,
which actually teaches better diving skills. For instance,
underwater, there are rocks, cliffs, coral, and other items that
when brushed up against with a wetsuit can do damage to
expensive gear or even create a safety hazard. By feeling the
environment on the body, you become more aware of your diving
and the environment, which means being more careful.

Just as there are many benefits of naked scuba diving, there are
some risks too. In this case, male divers should avoid the
process of feeding fish. The reason is that some fish cannot
tell food from a male's appendage, thus causing a bite. In
addition, men should protect themselves when in large schools of
fish. While this might sound funny, it can be a problem and
bites do occur. Therefore, just be aware of the environment when
diving without a wetsuit or bathing suit so you take the right
protective measures.

Interestingly, many divers are now trying naked diving and
finding they love it. The following are some sites that accept
nude diving should you decide to try it for yourself:

St. Maarten - Orient Beach French

Mexico § Cozumel - San Francisco Beach § Yucatan, Mayan Corridor
- Playa Del Carman § St. Barts

Honduras § Half Moon Bay § West End Bay

Antigua § Hawksbill

Bahamas § Nassau (Breezes) § Cat Island (Cutlass Bay)

Bonaire § Sorobon Beach Resort

Dominican Republic § Hispaniola (Eden Bay Resort)

Florida § Key Largo (Jules Undersea Lodge)

Jamaica § Runaway Beach (Breezes) § Braco (Grand Lido) § Nigro
(Grand Lido)

About the author:
target="_blank">Naked Scuba Diving , href="http://www.getscubadiving.com/" target="_blank">Scuba
Diving Equipment and More at http://www.getscubadiving.com


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Police Certificate For Canadian Visa

When you apply for the Canadian Permanent Resident visa, you
have to attach a police certificate to your application.

You must attach:

Police certificates of good conduct (Original document) from
each country, state or territory in which you and everyone
included in the application (18 years of age or over) have lived
for six months or longer (since reaching 18 years of age)

You should submit your original fingerprints to the authorities
conducting the police checks or clearances

If the authority in the country where you obtained your
certificate will forward the result directly to Citizenship and
Immigration Canada, you should attach a note explaining the
situation

Please note that:

A Police Certificate is required from ALL countries where the
applicant and his/her family have resided in for 6 months or
more since reaching age 18, along with the country where the
applicant currently lives. This certificate should be issued by
a national or federal police agency if possible. If you do not
currently reside in that country, you may need to apply at the
local Embassy or High Commission in your country of residence. A
Police Certificate (also called certificate of no criminal
record), is necessary for every applicant age 18 and older You
should present original Police Certificates and also an original
accredited translation if the certificates are not in English or
French. The Police Certificate (s) must have been issued in the
last six months.

About the author:
Alex Berez is a specialist in Canadian Immigration and founder
of http://www.stepbystepimmigrationcanada.com

Travel Tips For Avoiding Problems With Luggage

How often do we carefully book our flights, check villa
availability, mark the holiday in our calendar and then pack
frantically at the last minute. We take our luggage for granted
when our thoughts are on our luxury holiday villa, but by
remembering a few simple points we can ensure we have happy
memories of our holiday villa and not of luggage crisis.

Don't put all your clothes in one case when travelling as a
family. Distribute clothes for each person among the cases. That
way if you lose a case, everybody will have clothes to use until
it is hopefully recovered. It is even more important to
distribute prescribed medication among cases and hand luggage.
When packing, include a colour copy of your passports, tickets
and other important documentation. That way if you lose your
paperwork you know another copy is available to make life
easier.

If you can't remember the detail, write down the make and model
of your cases. Should your cases go missing you will be asked to
describe them and identify them at the airport, and it's amazing
how many people could not name the manufacturer of their cases,
or describe any identifying features. Even better, take a
photograph of your luggage with a digital camera and the
description process will be easy.

Make sure ownership of your cases is in no doubt. Attach strong
labels with your name, home address and destination clearly
printed. It's a good idea not to make this obviously visible to
passing public - you don't want to advertise your home address
as you leave for a fortnight in the sun. The final attachment
for the case is a multicoloured hair band, scarf or belt which
will help you to identify your case on the carousel on arrival
after your flight. This is definitely a situation where good
colour taste is not a consideration - the bolder the better.
Should your case go astray or be damaged, report it to the
baggage handlers immediately. Don't leave the airport to think
about it, find out what the procedure is and follow it.

Security is an important consideration in the modern world, and
we get so used to being asked the standard questions at check-in
that we can be lax in looking after our belongings, and in the
worst-case scenario even our freedom and our lives. Don't leave
your luggage in the care of anyone no matter how short the time,
how friendly they are or how pleasant the elderly couple seem.
What does a smuggler look like? Similarly, don't offer to carry
anything for anybody you don't know, no matter if you seemingly
initiate the idea. The stories you hear on the news are often
about ordinary people who were just too naïve or careless.

Be aware of your baggage allowance and plan for the return
flight as well as the outward journey. If your allowance is 20kg
per person and you have 19kg going out, it's not giving you much
scope for buying clothes and other items while on holiday.
There's no point in saving money at an outlet mall and paying
for excess baggage on your return journey. The common holiday
destinations have shops selling soap, toothpaste and basic
medications, and holiday villas have towels and the comforts of
life - you probably don't need to bring those things you have
packed 'just in case'. A common technique is to travel out with
one case inside another empty case.

Wherever your holiday villa is, include packing in your calendar
plans and use the time available to ensure your journey is a
success.

About the author:
George Curry is a Director of System Alchemy Ltd which manages
several property websites. Their latest development is href="http://www.aspavailabilitycalendar.com">VillaCal, an ASP
villa availability calendar.