Tag: hotels etc

Mexican Kitchen

5 Foods to try on a Caribbean vacation to Cancun

by hotelsetc, posted in vacations

Cancun is famous for beach time and all-inclusive resorts, but are you familiar with the food you need to try on your Caribbean vacation to Cancun? Many types of Mexican cuisine might be considered fast-food in North America but make no mistake, these local foods are traditional in Cancun and you should absolutely try them on your next Caribbean vacation.

5 local foods to try on a Caribbean vacation to Cancun:

Empenadas

You may have tried them in a fast food restaurant at some point but honestly, nothing compares to an empanada in Cancun. Succulent and crafted to perfection, these hunky wraps are much bigger than what you will find in North America while offering a large variety of fillings including chorizo and chicharon. If you are unsure of which one to choose, try the Quesadilla Tierra Del Sol.

Vacation in Cancun

Tacos

North Americans seem to love the taco just as much as their southern neighbors but again, the quality, variety and scale of this popular cuisine in Mexico is staggering.  There are many taco stands you will find on street corners around Cancun offering a beautiful mix of flavors topped off with cheese, avocado salsa and grilled onions. However, one of the lesser known yet most popular places to eat in Cancun is called Porki’s and the carnitas here are particularly good.

Fish Ceviche

Take a trip down town into the markets some day and you will be rewarded with this local delicacy. Fish Cerviche is very much the traditional food of choice here when it comes to seafood and you can buy some freshly grilled fish here for as little as $1 while it is then accompanied by the most delightful sauce, Tapatio hot sauce!

Nacho Chips with Dips

This was always going to go without saying but just in case, make sure you try them out on a Caribbean vacation. Although the chips will be pretty much the same as what you will find almost anywhere in the world, dips are always freshly made in Mexico which make all the difference.  And then there are the toppings; what do you want? Salsa, cheese, guacamole, minced meats or kidney beans…the options are endless.

Pozole soup

Pozole

If would like to try something a bit more traditional, Pozole is a local dish found all over the country. Made from a combination of lettuce, onion, oregano, chili and corn, Pozole is a soup-like vegetarian dish for the most part but you can also try a version with shredded pork. It may not be as enticing as some of the more fast-food like options on this list; Pozole is absolutely worth a try.

You can try all of these foods on a Caribbean vacation to Cancun but before you do anything, check out Hotels Etc. for vacation discounts to make it all happen in 2017.

Hiking on a Caribbean Vacation in Costa Rica

Why Costa Rica is the alternative Caribbean Vacation for 2017

by hotelsetc, posted in vacations

While Mexico and white sandy beaches may be at the forefront of your mind when booking a Caribbean vacation, spare a thought for an alternative option to Cancun and Riviera Maya. Located close to the beach and every other attraction you could want in elsewhere, Costa Rica has a little more to it than almost everywhere else in this part of the world making it one of the best destinations for a Caribbean vacation in 2017.

Here are five alternative things to do on a Caribbean vacation in Costa Rica:

Playa Nicoya Rainforest Retreat

And you thought the beach was the best place to relax on a Caribbean vacation? Think again. This isolated haven in the middle of the rain forest is an absolute must for those you who enjoy a little bit of pampering.  In fact, it is largely thanks to several select resorts such as Playa Nicoya that Costa Rica is becoming known as the ultimate destination for Spa Retreats in the Caribbean. Where yoga teachers and health professionals are always on hand to help you organize your stay, even a day visit to this special place will leave you far away in a moment of complete relaxation.

Caribbean vacation

White water raft Rios Tropicales

Another of Costa Rica’s most famous attractions come in the shape of rafting in Rio Tropicales which is suited to both beginners and more advanced rafters. That said, this is also a region and experience which allows you to stay overnight in a jungle lodge for a more authentic encounter with the rural interior. This will also be a most appreciated setting having spent a fun day adventuring down the river.

Hiking after dark

As far as unique experiences come, how about taking a hike after dark when the jungle comes alive? Many different species of nocturnal wildlife find themselves in the rural parts of Costa Rica and on a Caribbean vacation you can now catch a glimpse of them when they come out to play. Armadillos, bats and caimans are just a few of these and the guided tour itself will usually last for up to three hours.

Explore the spheres of stone

Costa Rica is also overflowing with historical features and on Yap Island; you can also find the regions smaller version of the moai on Easter Island in Chile. Dating back as far as 200 B.C these stones are a bizarre sight and were believed to have been carved by hand many centuries ago. You can visit the stones in the National Museum in San Jose where a visitor center explains everything about them including how they were first discovered on nearby banana plantations.

Monteverde

Visit Monteverde Biological Reserve

Costing only $15 entrance, this is one of the most affordable and amazing things to do in Costa Rica. Hiking into the upper regions of the mountains here will award the visitor with spectacular views but the luscious scenery en-route is just as impressive. Well marked and easily identified, the trails are suitable for anyone wanting to trek without the assistance of a guide and explore the surrounding wilderness at leisure. Monteverde Reserve is located in the north of the plains, not far from San Jose making it easy to access.

You can start organizing your next Caribbean vacation to Costa Rica by checking out the best online discounts on Hotels Etc.

Hotel discounts

How to find an affordable Caribbean vacation in 2017

by hotelsetc, posted in discounts

Wondering how to find an affordable Caribbean vacation in 2017?  There are many ways to keep your general costs down during the year to be able to afford a trip but more importantly, there is a very specific way to find an affordable vacation that not everybody is in the know about.

Let us explain.

Changes in online travel

The online world has changed the way we travel but more importantly it has allowed people to do so more often with everywhere being so much more more accessible and affordable. That said, the latter of these benefits has all but disappeared in recent years with the arrival of a new law called rate parity.

You see, until recently most travel booking engines or brands were enabled to offer excellent discounts on vacations, hotels etc and for good reason, customers were lining up to avail of these fantastic prices. Sounds great right? Yes it was but actually, all of these great prices and value have completely disappeared from the market without the consumer even noticing.

Affordable vacation

But how or why has nobody noticed?

Well, naturally if a travel website is perceived as not offering any real value, there is no reason for them being there in the first place. After all, why use a third party when you can go direct to the service provider for the same price? For this reason, a new law called rate parity is little talked about in an industry which is now severely restricted from offering customers genuine value.

What is rate parity?

In a nutshell, rate parity stipulates that travel companies is required to offer the same price to customers across every channel of distribution. Straight to the point, this essentially means these booking engines are no longer permitted to offer customers the great discounts we have seen in the past.

Does this mean the end of hotel discounts or special offers?

Well, no. There was one exemption from this rate parity law and it came in the form of travel membership clubs. As a membership club, you are entitled to negotiate large discounts with suppliers and pass this value on to paying members.

Hence, Travel membership clubs such as Hotels Etc are now returning to the fore of an industry they dominated before the online world and booking engines took over.

Hotels Etc

Hotels Etc

As mentioned above, Hotels Etc have worked within the travel industry for more than 20 years. At one time this membership club was one of the only ways to find a vacation or hotel discount in a world without internet.

With more than 4 million members and a five star rating, it continued to take care of members but was obviously affected with the arrival of booking engines and online travel brands. As discussed already, with the declining value of booking engines, this membership club is now re-emerging to establish itself as one of the few providers of genuine travel discounts.

It makes sense that customers like to stick with the major travel brands which they trust but with 4 million members and some truly genuine value, Hotels Etc has an easy to use booking system in which you can search and compare all of the best online discounts for hotels and vacations.

Why more North Americans are deciding to vacation at home

by hotelsetc, posted in vacations

Since 9/11, there has been a large decrease in the number of North Americans traveling abroad in general and this is quite understandable given the current climate. However, there are far more reasons for why recent trends are showing that many Americans are opting to vacation at home rather than traveling abroad and they all make sense entirely. Here is the main reason as to why so many North Americans are deciding to stay at home rather than vacationing abroad in 2017, diversity.

Yes, North America has all the necessary ingredients needed for an unforgettable vacation and often, with the use of hotel discounts or deals, it will also cost a lot less.

Stay at home

It’s not Fear, it’s out of interest

Let us get this out of the way, in contrast to popular belief, it’s not actually fear that is deterring locals from traveling abroad. Yes, since 9/11 people are more reluctant in terms of leaving the confines of home  and unfortunately, there is still a concern that elsewhere is unsafe or that terrorists are waiting to pounce outside every hotel abroad but none of this is really true. No, most of the reasons for which North Americans are spending their vacations at home are positive and with the best of intentions.

You see, it must be understood that this is a huge part of the world and as a landmass, the States has almost every type of bio-diversity, attraction or variety of landscapes as anywhere else on earth. Something majestic? The Grand Canyon. Entertainment? Las Vegas. Exciting cities? New York, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco. Wilderness, swamp lands or beaches? Montana, Florida and California. It makes complete sense to stay at home as why feel the need to travel abroad for new experiences when you can have a less expensive and just as interesting vacation closer to home.

hotel discounts

North America is accessible and affordable

And that brings us to the cost. Traveling in the US was once an expensive thing to do but with the arrival of the online world, just about anyone can afford a vacation with hotel discounts. Want a hotel room in New York for half price? Use hotel discounts. Want two for the price of one in a restaurant? Use restaurant discounts. Want special offers on local attractions or recreational activities? There are discounts for everything online. But you’ve got to know where to look, and that’s where we come in; we know exactly why you should stay at home for your next vacation and we want to help you make it happen at the most affordable price.

You can sign up for a free trial on Hotels Etc here and start finding all the biggest hotel discounts and more.

5 Best Caribbean luxury resorts for 2017

by hotelsetc, posted in vacations

Caribbean all-inclusive resorts are the most popular vacation of choice for most North Americans and there is little to wonder about in this respect for most of them are blessed with fine weather, amazing food and world class facilities. That said, there is a gulf in difference between budget options and the more luxurious resorts making it difficult to choose the most ideal destination for your next trip.

From Mexico to Jamaica, Dominican Republic and back, here are the 5 best Caribbean all inclusive resorts for 2017:

Caribbean Vacation

Hyatt Zilara Cancun, Mexico

Mexico makes our list again and as you might expect with the Hyatt, this is a hotel of pure luxury. Offering a world class spa with ocean views, saunas, whirlpools and more, Hyatt is also one of the true masters when it comes to relaxation and pampering of any kind. Another highlight are the hammocks which adorn the balcony of every room and then the food which never fails to make feedback from satisfied customers.

Azul Sensatori, Jamaica

Seven Mile Beach is one of the finest in the world and it is here you will find the Azul Sensatori, one of the most incredible all-inclusive resorts in Negril, Jamaica. Sun baked and covered in white powdered sands, the beach is scintillating but then that’s not all the resort has to offer, for 120 deluxe rooms each have an incredible ocean view. And then there are the facilities, with onsite dance classes, cooking course, and the option of renting canoes or surf boards. Completing the rout, the Azul also has no less than six different restaurants.

Chic Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

There is a mansion in this resort, does that tell you what to expect? This is truly royalty and Chic Punta Cana is the essence of luxury. More than five bedrooms, a Jacuzzi, private pool and wine cellar make this one stand out. Aside from this there are another 300 rooms with green gardens and pools to accompany the variety of foods, from Japanese to Moroccan. Chic in Punta Cana is slightly expensive but worth every last dime.

Infinity Pool

Generations Riviera Maya, Mexico

Situtated in the Riviera Maya, Mexico, Generations finds itself on an isolated beach and has a unique selling point in that every suite has a personal butler. This really is one of the finest coastal sections in Mexico but there are also stunning infinity pools meaning you don’t even need to move from your suite to take a swim. Gourmet food is also a highlight and make Generations one of the best Caribbean all-inclusive resorts with a wide range of Mexican and Mediterranean foods on offer. Interestingly, the hotel also has a kids cooking club which is super fun.

Melia Nassau Beach, Bahamas

Melia is another luxury resort for rather wealthy and this richness extends to every part of the resort. There are two different areas, Baha Mar and Atlantis, but regardless of which one you decide upon,  the experience is just as unique as you might expect. With more than 600 rooms and a beautiful beach front setting, Melia Nassau Beach is one of the best Caribbean resorts for 2017.

You can find hotel discounts for all of the above Caribbean resorts on Hotels Etc.