Tag Archives: bestof2011

Zach Rabinor: Conde Nast Travel’s Top Pick for Mexico Again this Year!

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Zach RabinorWe all knew that Zach Rabinor, President of Journey Mexico, was the best person to talk to about all things South of the Border, but Conde Nast Traveler just made it official! He has been named the Conde Nast Travel Specialist for Mexico again this year. If you’ve been dreaming of leaving the cold behind and heading to Mexico for an exciting cultural sojourn, Zach’s years of experience as a guide leveraged into Mexico’s leading Travel Company Journey Mexico makes him unique in his knowledge of his adopted home. He’ll make sure you get the very most from your vacation time.

Zach Rabinor Conde Nast Top Travel Specialist 2011Is a Travel Specialist Really that Big of a Deal?
Actually, it is. Every year, about 10,000 travel agents and tour operators vie for this honor, but only 133 make the list. Instead of picking someone who has never stepped foot on foreign soil, this title guarantees that you’re working with a bona fide expert who knows your destination inside and out. In fact, Travel Specialists know the area even better than the locals. If you’re looking for a dream vacation in Mexico, something enriching and culturally exciting, this is the way to go!

How was Zach Chosen?
First of all, Zach doesn’t just sit in his office and page through travel guides; he lives and breathes Mexico! Based in Puerto Vallarta, Zach personally tours the country’s best hotels and resorts while making the connections that mean all the difference to his clients.

If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience like touring the Teotihuacan ruins with an actual archeologist or impressing your guests with a gourmet dinner at the chef’s table in the best restaurant in Oaxaca when no one else can even get a reservation, Zach can make the arrangements. An avid surfer and hiker, Zach can not only help you plan the best coastal and inland activities, he can give you some first-hand tips to make your trip even more enjoyable!

Zach Rabinor Conde Nast Villa Specialist 2011Zach Rabinor – the CNT Villa Specialist
A luxury villa in a secluded area is the best way to get away from it all and enjoy an authentic Mexican experience. Although a top-rated resort can be a lot of fun, it doesn’t come close to the peaceful setting of a home surrounded by private grounds where you can really let your hair down. However, choosing a property based on virtual tours and pamphlets alone is risky. Zach is the only Mexico Travel Specialist who is also the CNT Villa Specialist! He can easily narrow down your choices based on your interests and give you the scoop on the villa’s amenities and the surrounding area.

To take the guesswork out of planning the next trip to Mexico for you or your clients, let Zach and Journey Mexico arrange everything right down to the smallest detail!

Read the full Conde Naste article here>>

Contact Journey Mexico today:
Tel: +52 (322) 225 9821
Toll Free (from the U.S.): 1-800-513-1587
Fill out our online form>>

 

Lonely Planet Names Puebla One of the Top 10 Places to Visit for 2012

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#MexicoToday: Every year, Lonley Planet publishes a ‘Best in Travel’ guide and ranks the top 10 countries, regions and cities to visit for the coming year. For 2012 Readers’ Choice,  Puebla, Mexico was named among one top 10 cities to visit.

Drawing on the knowledge, passion and miles travelled by Lonely Planet’s staff, authors and online community, they present a year’s worth of travel inspiration to take travelers of the ordinary and into some unforgettable experiences. Hot off the press, Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2012 had one difference in their decision process this year– they wanted to hear what the travelers of the world think will be 2012’s hottest destinations.  After hundreds of nominations for cities and countries and regions,  we are proud to see that Puebla, Mexico made the Top 10, alongside destinations such as Barcelona, Iceland, Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul and Bangkok.

Puebla, a charming colonial city with a UNESCO acknowledged Historic City center,  was recently reported one of the the Top 5 Safest Place to Travel in Mexico in the San Francisco Chronicle. It is a city known for it’s twin volcanoes, site of the Cinco de Mayo battle, great poblano gastronomy,  historic buildings and a wealth of archaeological sites. Combine this with it’s on-going  festivals and traditions, it is no wonder that Puebla draws in plenty of tourists each year to merit it’s Top 10 status among some of the grandest cities in the world.

Not convinced yet? Check out the website All About Puebla as it further examines all the attention Puebla has been getting lately, including recognition from National Geographic and The New York Times  who picked Puebla as one of its 45 places to go in 2012.

Start browsing our Puebla itineraries here and start planning your trip to one of 2012′s must visit cities.

Archaeologists Find Aztec Ritual Platform In Mexico City

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#MexicoToday: Under the hustle and bustle of modern Mexico City lie the ruins of the pre-Hispanic Aztec capital, once known as Tenochtitlán.  The center of this ancient capital was the Templo Mayor, which archeologists discovered in the mid 1900s and excavated in the seventies under the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral. Still a site for active digs, archeologists have recently discovered an Aztec ceremonial platform while doing remodeling work around the Templo Mayor in the centro historico, one of downtown Mexico City’s main attractions.

This newly discovered ceremonial platform is speculated to have been built around AD 1469 and is decorated with carvings of serpent heads, important in determining what the platform was used for.  A critical piece in a challenging puzzle for historians, this platform could represent a cremation site for Aztec rulers.  To date, archeologists have never found any royal Aztec tombs in their excavations of the ancient capital.  Researchers have been on a five-year quest to unearth remains of Aztec emperors around the Templo Mayor basing their digs on old historical accounts of cremation ceremonies written by Roman Catholic priests who accompanied the Spanish conquest in 1521. The records suggest that the Aztec rulers were cremated at the foot of the Templo Mayor and this platform may be part of the same structure.  Archeologists around the world agree that the discovery of a royal tomb would be a major break through in understanding Aztec kingship, burial and the structure of the empire.

The blend of pre-Hispanic and modern cultures in Mexico City and the continual discovery of ancient history in this metropolitan capital make the city a unique destination for the savvy traveler.  While this new platform will continue to be excavated until possibly May 2012,  the Templo Mayor and it’s adjacent museum in the Historic Center of Mexico City (included in UNESCO’s World Heritage list), remain open to the public. If you are interested in visiting Mexico City or other archaeological sites, contact Journey Mexico.

 

Early Human Footprints Found in Chihuahua

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#MexicoToday: Mexico has received a lot of attention over the years for discoveries that trace back  thousands of years ago: ancient tombs, Mayan palaces, pre-Hispanic carvings, and now human footprints. Found in northern Mexico’s Sierra Tarahuamara in Chihuahua, officials said these footprints could have been left by some of the original humans who inhabited Mexico and even the continent.

According to the National Anthropology and History Institute (INAH), the five human footprints, which were discovered by locals hiking in the mountain chain, could be between 4,500 and 23,000 years old.  To date, the oldest human remains in the Americas on record are 11,600 years old; these too were found in Mexico, in a cenote (sinkhole) in Quintana Roo.  Scientists are hoping to authenticate these human steps found in Chihuahua as even older than these remains.  The INAH, currently undergoing a project called “Early Man in Mexico”, believe that this discovery could be extremely significant as these footprints are not only the earliest on record in Chihuahua but also are potentially from the first human beings to settle the whole continent.

Following this finding, the INAH began a detailed investigation of the area which uncovered traces of other primitive shelters and campsites. Near the original site, just outside of Creel in Ahuatos Valley, they also uncovered five caves, three of them with several layers of paintings. The cave paintings originated over three different periods of time, pre-ceramic, pre-Hispanic and colonial which leads our experts to believe that humans were present in the area from times dating all the way back to the Ice Age, over 12,000 years ago!

Mexico has repeatedly proven to be a never ending source of exciting archeological discovery.  This discovery comes just months after a new Mayan Palace was discovered in Chiapas and  two sculptures of Mayan Warriors  discovered at Toniná.  The opportunities for archeological enthusiasts abound and Mexico remains a world class destination for travel into the ancient past.

 

The Magical Neighborhoods of Mexico City

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#MexicoToday: In the beginning of the year, we reported the Government investment of 330 million pesos in the the Barrios Magicos (Magical Neighborhoods) program in Mexico City. An initiative led by the Secretary of Tourism of the Federal District, the Barriós Magico Turisticos de la Ciudad de Mexico program proposed to showcase the most culturally rich spaces of Mexico City area to increase tourism.

After months of revision of many neighborhoods, a total of 21 have met the standards and requirements to be certified as a Magical Neighborhood.  The requirements were modeled after the national ‘Magic Towns’ program, having to meet the criteria of either holding some wealth of historic, architectural, cultural, gastronomic, or folkloric image to spark interest in visitors.  It also mandated that access roads to these neighborhoods must adhere to standards of security and cleanliness, while also controlling any unappealing activity so the area remains attractive. The designated budget for these 21 neighborhoods would help provide in maintaining the standards

The 21 Magical Neighborhoods that made the list are: Coyoacán, Roma-Condesa, Xochimilco, San Ángel, San Agustín de las Cuevas, Santa María La Ribera, Zona Rosa, Garibaldi, Villa de Guadalupe, Mixcoac, Tacubaya, Santa María Magdalena Atlitic, Azcapotzalco, La Merced, Mixquic, Cuajimalpa, San Pedro Atocpan, Culhuacán, Tacuba, Santa Julia and Pueblo de Ixtacalco.

Though the 21 neighborhoods blend to make up the entire urban area, they each conserve a distinguishable identity and environment, creating small pockets of culture and tradition sprinkled throughout Mexico City.  Particular points of history, quaint restaurants, hidden museums, flourishing plazas, and beautiful chapels add particular charm to these neighborhoods, connecting normal daily lifestyle with remembrances of the past. Some of the attractions in these neighborhoods have already been internationally recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites, such as the Luis Barragán House and Studio in Tacubaya and also the zone of Xochimilco that have canals that are a reminder of the pre-Hispanic Aztecs. Other sites of interest that are already well-known include the house of renowned artists, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, in Coyoacán and also one of the most visited churches in the world, La Basílica de Guadalupe in the neighborhood of Villa de Guadalupe. But as the program points out, the neighborhoods don’t necessarily have to have a specific point of interest to qualify as a Barrio Magico; it could simply be the ambiance and character of an area that earns it Magic Neighborhood status, as is the case  in Roma-Condesa, one of the trendiest and most artsy neighborhoods in Mexico.

As interest in travel to Mexico continues to rise, Mexico hopes to designate more Magical Neighborhoods over the next three years. Government and residents plan to continue to work together to conserve these areas and offer better options of culture, recreation, hospitality, and gastronomy to their visitors.

Mexico: The Royal Tour

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The Royal Tour Mexico

#MexicoToday: Peter Greenberg, credited as “America’s most recognized, honored and respected front-line travel news journalist,” hosts a special series on PBS called The Royal Tour in which he travels a country guided by its head of state. On September 22nd (September 23rd in Mexico), PBS will air The Royal Tour: Mexico – Greenberg’s grandest royal tour to date.

With Mexico’s President, Felipe Calderón, as his guide, Greenberg explored Mexico from top to bottom, undertaking such adventures as whale watching in Baja California, rappelling 110 stories down the Cave of Swallows in San Luis Potosi, zip-lining through the jungles of Puerto Vallarta, and exploring several of the Yucatan’s cenotes and underground rivers. In addition to the adventure, Greenberg was able to sit down with the President and discuss some pressing issues such as the United State’s perception of safety in Mexico.

 

While in Oaxaca this past June for the Mexico Today kick-off event, I had the chance to discuss the filming of The Royal Tour: Mexico with Jaime Diaz, the government official who was integral in making the event happen. Jaime explained to me that the previous Royal Tours (in places like Jordan, New Zealand, Peru, and Jamaica) were filmed in about seven days but because Mexico is such a vast country, Greenberg and PBS wanted to reserve the President for two weeks – something the Mexican government strongly opposed. According to Jaime, President Calderón overrode his advisors and agreed to the filming, seeing The Royal Tour as a huge opportunity to open the eyes of American viewers to the beauty of his country and to the wealth of meaningful travel experiences offeren in Mexico.

Judging from the trailer, it seems President Caldrón made the right call as The Royal Tour: Mexico looks fantastic. Set your TiVos now because, trust us, Mexico is going to blow you away!

Mexican Tourism Rising at Record Rates

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The numbers continue to climb as Mexico has seen an increase of about 200,000 international visitors from Jan to May of this year when compared to the same time period of 2010. A recent press release from the Mexican Tourism Board confirms the trend we’ve been seeing lately, where international travelers from outside the US have been filling the void left by American travelers discouraged from traveling to Mexico by negative media.

According to the press release, Mexico has seen substantial growth in travel from Russia (58.1 percent), Brazil (40.9 percent), and China (32.8 percent) since the start of the year. At this rate, Mexico is expected to receive a record number of international foreign visitors, trumping its previous high of 22.4 million achieved in 2010.

When asked to comment on this rapid increase in travelers to Mexico from outside the US, Journey Mexico founder and President, Zachary Rabinor, replied with the following:

“It doesn’t surprise me at all; Mexico is a world class destination with incredible geographic, cultural, natural diversity and great selection of hotels and experiences for every interest and budget.  Following on a few years of discounting and incredible value added offers due to the worldwide economic downturn and then multiple shocks to demand in N. America (by far Mexico’s largest market), there has never been a better time to travel to Mexico – we can offer outstanding value right now!  Fortunately, European, Russian and S. American visitors can differentiate between one sided, sensationalist reporting and the great travel experiences that Mexico offers. Hopefully N. Americans will take the cue and return to Mexico in force before too long!”

As Mexico continues to offer new and authentic travel experiences (did you know two major new Mayan archeological discoveries were made in just the past few months?) at such great value and proximity, it’s surely just a matter of time before discerning travelers from the US grow tired of the sensationalized reports about Mexico and begin to return to Mexico in droves. The return of the US market in combination with these exploding foreign markets should give Mexico a real chance of hitting its goal of being in the top five international tourist destinations by 2018.

Mexico Getting a Bad Rap

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MSNBC has recently published an article called Time to Say Adios to Mexico? containing wildly misleading statements about safety in Mexico and insinuating that Americans have collectively decided to stop visiting Mexico altogether.

The article begins by stating that 34,000 people have died because of the drug war, yet it does not point out that that virtually all of the drug related violence has taken place in only a few specific boarder towns or that tourists and innocent bystanders have not and are not being targeted. The article makes no effort to contextualize these numbers with US murder figures as they would have had to acknowledge that Mexico has a murder rate of about 9.8 per every 100,000 people, which is actually less than that of US cities like Phoenix (12.6), Houston (12.5), and Los Angeles (17.1) (source).

The article then insinuates that tourism to Mexico is declining, when US investments in Mexico, US flights to Mexico, and the numbers themselves show otherwise. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the number of foreign tourist arrivals to Mexico in 2010 was 22.4 million – a 7% increase from 2009 and 2% more than in 2008, which was one of Mexico’s best years in history.

The US has been catching heat from international critics since they increased the State Departments Mexico travel warning with broad, misleading statements that don’t accurately specify the specific regions of danger. There’s been much speculation as to why the US media has been so relentless about publishing negative press related to Mexico, but one thing is certain – they’re not playing fair and it’s influencing a whole lot of Americans. In this recent post from MSNBC, they’ve included a poll asking “Would you visit Mexico given the worsening violence in some areas?” As of the time I am writing this post, 76% of the 20233 who have voted answered No.

If you’ve been to Mexico and can attest to its safety (like these recent travel experts) or if your just a fan of responsible reporting in general, please click here and vote “Yes” (the poll is below the picture to the right of the text) to show Americans that not everything is as your TV would lead you to believe.

Safety of Mexico Interview

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safety of mexico interviewIn May of 2011, Journey Mexico lead a group of 13 travel experts from around the world on a 14 day excursion through Mexico City & Puebla, Oaxaca, Chiapas, and the Yucatan. On the final night of the trip, we sat down with member of the group and asked them: “At any point during your time in Mexico did you feel unsafe?” It’s not surprise to those of us who live here that their answer was overwhelmingly NO.

 

Travel Safety in Perspective: USA vs. Mexico

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This article was written by Tim Leffel and has been re-posted from his blog Tim Leffel’s Cheapest Destinations

There’s been a lot of news coverage about violence in Mexico, very little of it bothering to note that Mexico is a huge country with thirty-some states and that a) almost all of that violence is narco-related and b) you can count the number of tourists affected on one hand.

Meanwhile, according to the FBI, “An estimated 15,241 persons were murdered nationwide in 2009″ in the United States of America.

Officially, 111 U.S. citizens were killed in Mexico last year, a third in just two cities. Almost all of them were involved in illicit vocations, usually the trafficking of guns, drugs, or people across the border. This is 111 out of close to 8 million visitors, with nearly 1 million of those being part- or full-time residents choosing Mexico over the U.S. or Canada.

You know who else had 111 murders in one year recently? Boston. And Las Vegas. And Orlando. Are any tourists scared of going to those places?

Meanwhile, almost 1,000 U.S. citizens died in Puerto Rico. Nobody running the news desks cares about Puerto Rico or has an incentive to make people scared of Puerto Ricans (by nature, they can’t be “illegal immigrants”), so this isn’t widely reported.

Then there’s the U.S. proper, which can’t get a State Department travel alert because it’s, well, not a foreign country. How’s your city doing in comparison to Mexico when it comes to the annual numbers?

Atlanta  - city, 80 murders. Atlanta MSA (metropolitan statistical area), 325 murders
Baltimore – 238 city, 298 MSA
Boston – 50 city, 111 MSA
Dallas/Ft. Worth – 210 city, 310 MSA
Detroit – 365 city, 447 MSA
Houston – 287 city, 462 MSA
Indianapolis – 100 city, 111 MSA
Jacksonville, FL – 99 city, 120 MSA
Kansas City – 100 city, 163 MSA
Las Vegas – 111 city, 133 MSA
Los Angeles – 312 city, 768 MSA
Miami  - 59 city, 377 Miami to Boca Raton corridor
New Orleans – 174 city, 252 MSA
New York City – 471 city, 778 MSA
Orlando – 28 city, 111 MSA
Philadelphia – 302 city, 436 MSA
Phoenix – 122 city, 302 MSA
San Francisco – 45 city, 292 MSA
St. Louis – 143 city, 210 MSA
Washington, DC – 143 city, 325 MSA

To put things in perspective, the murder rate in the Yucatan state of Mexico is 2 per 100,000. That’s about the same as Fond du Lac, Wisconsin or Evansville, Indiana. Mexico City’s is 8 per 100,000. Despite being one of the most populated cities on the planet, that’s on par with Albuquerque, NM. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never felt scared in Albuquerque…