TOLL FREE 877 278 2142 USA
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TOLL FREE 877 278 2142 USA
TOLL FREE 844 776 3727 USA & CAN
Summertime is just a few weeks away, which means family vacations are likely on the brain.
The idea of planning a vacation with kids in tow can be intimidating. Sure, the actual vacation is supposed to be relaxing (or as relaxing as a vacation with kids can be!), but getting to that point can be a maze of hotel recommendations, travel blogs, flight seat selections and more.
So we have some vacation planning tips so you can get that trip booked with ease. From flight hacks to safety recommendations, here’s what they shared.
Plus we gather the best hotel deals in beach luxury resorts with amazing kids clubs
Google is a helpful resource when planning a vacation, but if you’re at the beginning of your planning process, try to resist the temptation to hop on with your searches.
If you start with Google, it’s the paradox of choice.There’s so much out there and you just don’t even know what you’re looking for.
Instead have a family meeting to learn how far everyone wants to go, what activities they’d like to do, their thoughts about hanging out on beaches vs. exploring local villages, and so on. Then, let Google help you arrange tours and plan other activities.
Also, knowing when you want to go can sometimes help you put together a list.
Certain places and activities will be more accessible at different times of the year, so once you know exactly when and how long you want the trip to be, the choices can be narrowed down a bit.
Of course, school vacation means peak travel times. Planning ahead can help you and your family avoid higher prices, sold-out tours and the headache that comes after learning there aren’t enough seats together on a flight.
If you have young children who are not in school and have flexibility with dates, it is best to travel at non-peak times. For example, the first week of January after the New Year offers lower pricing than staying over the holiday week,.
Having plenty of advance notice of a trip will also allow you to send important supplies (like diapers, baby products, sunscreen, etc.) to your vacation spot before you leave. Many hotels will happily arrange for this. Plus, sending these things leaves room in your luggage for other belongings.
If you give the hotel information and tell them about yourselves and about your family, everything can be set up for you.
As an example, ask for turndown service at a different time if you know your toddler will be sleeping, bring a notecard with you about the restrictions that are in the local language and give it to them so they can tailor to your needs.
If your kids have sensory difficulties call hotels ahead of time to ask whether the housekeeping team incorporates any strong smells as part of the room ambience.
Resist the temptation to plan several tours or activities a day, leave some time in the day to rest, you should always factor in travel time and wait times when scheduling excursions and other fun things.
Of course, the trip planning doesn’t end after the hotel and mode of transportation are booked, plan on bringing “a handful of small gifts in wrapping paper” to keep kids occupied.
Another idea that’s a bit out of the ordinary? Bring blue painter’s tape to distract the kids, blue painter’s tape works wonders on planes, it’s cheap, easy, and it doesn’t ruin any surfaces!”
If you’re looking for something that keeps kids occupied and requires no extra belongings, make the plane ride part of the adventure and talk to the kids about the trip while traveling. It’ll keep them busy and get them excited about the vacation.
And if you’re traveling internationally, don’t forget to check everyone’s passports, not just your own. Remember that children’s passports expire every five years (vs. 10 years for adults), so be sure those are up to date, the expiration date on passports must be valid at least six months beyond your date of travel [for some countries].
Planning trips can be stressful, but the research pays off.
It might be a little extra work on the ground before you go, but at the same time once you’re there it’ll allow you to fully enjoy and appreciate the vacation instead of having to be concerned about it when you’re there.
And if you are feeling overwhelmed or spotting too many restrictions on your family’s needs at a certain destination, simply go somewhere else.
Via: Huffpost
From Caribbean beaches to Pacific cruise ports, destinations in Mexico offer optimal inexpensive getaways. Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) and The Riviera Maya are just three vacation hotspots that won't wreck your wallet. Don't let pricey airline tickets ruin your vacation budget. With a few simple tips, save money you can spend instead on tours, souvenirs and enjoying Mexican culture.
Use the calendar
Use Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar online to view the cheapest times to fly to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City or Los Cabos. Enter your origination and destination cities and click on the month that you wish to travel. A calendar pops up showing the best deals for each day of the month. For example, airfare the day after Christmas and the weekend before Christmas is the most expensive time to travel during the month of December on a flight from Phoenix to Cancun. A flight costs less than half as much during the first 12 days of the month or after the first week of January.
Avoid Holiday Travel Times
Visiting Mexico during national holidays can be a festive and exciting experience, but you'll also pay a premium for airfare. Travel during times when school is in session and government and businesses offices are open to find the lowest rates. Mexican citizens tend to travel during the national holidays when many businesses close for one or more days. Airfare increases to Mexico for the Christmas holiday season beginning with December 12, the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Although the main focus of the festival is Villa de Guadalupe Hidalgo north of Mexico City, the national holiday gives citizens time to travel in all parts of the country. The winter holiday season ends with the New Year's holiday. The Easter season is another busy travel season in Mexico where Maundy Thursday and Good Friday just before the Easter weekend are national holidays. Other national holidays include:
Constitution Day, the first Monday in February
Benito Juarez's Birthday, the third Monday in March
Labour Day, May 1
Independence Day, September 16
Revolution Day, the third Monday of November
Price flights online
If you know when you want to go on your Mexican holiday, check out onsite price matching sites like JustFly or Google Flights. Although you might have to move quickly to snag the very best deal, take time to check out the details before you commit. Some prices you'll find online don't include taxes and additional fees, which can tack on more than $100 on a flight from Phoenix to Cancun, for example. Lower priced fares might add one or more stops, extending your flight time. For example, a 4.5-hour flight from Phoenix can turn into 15 hours of flying and airport layovers when you fly via Dallas to save a few dollars. Keep legroom in mind, too. Google Flights includes how much legroom you'll have which, if you're tall, can be worth paying more for to be comfortable for hours in the air.
With SQN Getaways, find the best accommodation packages and have an amazing time in paradise.
Source: (Usa today)
The island of Cozumel is located off Mexico's eastern coast. Cozumel sits within the Caribbean Sea, south of Cancun and near Playa del Carmen on the mainland. Part of the Mexican Riviera Maya, tourists like to go to Cozumel primarily for the beaches and water recreation. The island experiences tropical weather and offers three cruise ship piers, including an international pier.
You can check our Riviera Maya packages https://sqngetaways.com/packages
Mayan Ruins
Cozumel holds several ancient Mayan ruins sites. San Gervasio is the largest site on the island and the shine of the goddess of fertility Ix Chel. The island contains 24 sites discovered thus far, including El Cedral and the coastal watchtower Castillo Real. Visitors may also join a larger tour including sites on the Yucatan Peninsula.
Beaches
The list of Cozumel's beaches is an impressive one for an island only 32 miles long and 9 miles wide. The beaches include Passion Island Beach, Playa Uvas, Playa Corona and Paradise Beach. According to the This is Cozumel website, San Francisco is a family beach, Palancar Beach is a quieter area and Playa San Martin offers unspoiled beauty on the eastern side of the island. Paradise Beach serves as an example of all of Cozumel's beaches, lined with coconut palms, featuring white sands and clear water. Paradise Beach also has a heated pool, restrooms and changing rooms.
Diving
A large number of coral reefs ring the island. The reefs are a part of the Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park. Dives in the area range from 25 feet to 130 feet in depth, depending on the reef, and area dives range from beginner level to advanced. Dive shops and scuba instruction are available on the island. Businesses such as Aqua Safari offer specialty diving courses for night dives, deep and drift diving.
Natural Areas
Punta Sur Eco Park, a 2,700-acre reserve, allows visitors to snorkel Chunchacaab reef, enjoy a catamaran ride or kayak tour of Colombia lagoon and explore the Celarain lighthouse or the Mayan ruin El Caracol. The park brings visitors close to wildlife and tropical flowers. Punta Sur Beach has restrooms and showers for those who want to go swimming and sunning.
Parks
Cozumel's parks offer visitors a wide variety of activities in and out of the water. At Chankanaab Park, only 3 miles from the cruise ship terminals, guests can try water recreation such as snorkeling, scuba, snuba, sea trekking, parasailing, and kitesurfing. Guests also have the opportunity to swim with manatees, sea lions, and dolphins. The park offers hammocks, beach chairs, huts, restrooms and showers for those who want to relax on the beach
At Playa Mia Grand Beach Park, guests may learn to prepare Mexican cuisine; visit the shopping center for crafts, clothing, jewelry and beach supplies; snorkel, scuba dive, take a banana boat ride or enjoy an outdoor massage. The park offers beach games, a swimming pool and for kids, it contains puzzles and giant-sized games. Craft sessions, sand castle contests and Spanish language lessons are also available, the also rents lockers, towels and umbrellas for use on the nearly 500 feet of sandy beach.
So choose your dates, book your stay at https://sqngetaways.com/packages, book your flights and get ready to have the most incredible Beach Geatway.
When looking for a vacation spot, there are so many things to consider. Like time to get there, costs of flying to get there and where do you stay and what do you do when you do get there. Puerto Penasco is your best place for every aspect of a vacation. First, it is only a short 4 hour drive from Phoenix or Tucson and with no waiting in long lines at the airport. Secondly it is not expensive to get here, third is we have the best deals for accommodation on the Sea of Cortez and last, there is a multitude of things to do here every single day. No over crowded beaches here, just miles of pristine sand.
Crossing the US/Mexico border is very easy (just make sure you have your passport or passport card for re-entering to the US). Buy your Mexican auto insurance either online or from your own agent.
A short 1 hour drive south of the border and you are here. About 30 kilometers south of the border you will pass the Pinacate Biosphere. Sometime during your stay, do go back out and tour the new visitor center Shuk Toak. It is very modern with a movie telling all about the craters and the surrounding area. The guide there will answer any questions that you may have and there are interactive touch screens throughout the building. Make certain to take your camera as the views from the center are gorgeous. This crater range is the largest in North America and if you feel like going up to see them, you can (4 wheel drive) is best. You may encounter many animals along the way.
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Back in Puerto Peñasco if you are a seafood lover, take the drive out to the oyster farms and get some steamed clams, fresh shucked oysters or ceviche and have a cold beer if you like. While there take a dip in the water or just watch the Blue Heron and Egrets do a fly over along with countless Pelicans.
As you pass into town you will drive along the docks in the Historic Wharf District with all the shrimp boats moored and will be able to see nests of what we call Bald Eagles, but they are actually a little different. Both mom and dad tend the nests and dive in the harbor to get food for the babies. Again, camera time, as the boats make for awesome photography as well as the pelicans perched on the pongas (little fishing boats). Continue into the Malecon, were you can have your choice of food and very good service. A lot of history here as Al Capone use to stay there in the bootlegging days. As you leave the Old Port, make sure you stop into Mercedes Rusticos. Here you will find anything that you need for your home or as a gift. From the south of Mexico you will find blown glassware, Mexican table settings and weavings just to name a few things.
Sometime during your trip, venture out to what locals call “Rodeo Drive” and visit the many shops filled with everything from beautiful ladies apparel to upscale gifts for you home or condo. There is something there for everyone.
