Magic Neighborhoods of Mexico City to Receive 330 Million Pesos

Posted by & filed under Culture, News.

On the heels of President Calderon’s declaration of 2011 as the Year of Mexican Tourism, the Government of the Federal District and Federal Tourism Ministry have committed to injecting 330 million pesos into the Barriós Magicos (Magical Neighborhoods) program in Mexico City. The Magical Neighborhoods of Mexico City project will showcase a proposed 19 of the most culturally rich regions of the Federal District.

This new Magical Neighborhoods program is being modeled after the Magic Towns (Pueblos Mágico de México) program that currently showcases more than 35 of Mexico’s most charming towns. The Magic Towns of Mexico must meet and maintain eight sections of criteria before they are deemed a Magic Town and are able to receive federal funding.

Certain Magical Neighborhoods such as San Angel, Coyoacan,  and Tlalpan are ready to meet similar standards, as is; however, other neighborhoods including the Villa de Guadalupe, Garibaldi, and Roma-Condesa need portions of the 330 million peso fund to prepare for evaluation.

The Zona Rosa has been working towards renovation for some time. It seems that portions of this Magical Neighborhoods fund will be used to improve pedestrian areas of Zona Rosa; however, other improvements such as renovating the visitor center will come from a separate fund.

As interest in travel to Mexico continues to rise (Mexico was recently voted number five of the 2011 Top Ten International Travel Destinations in Virtuoso’s Lux Report), the Barriós Magicos project is aimed to give those traveling to Mexico even more reasons to leave the beach for a few days and venture into the heart of the country for a more culturally rich experience.

Mexico City Map

Photo via Wikipedia

Joining Together to Move Mexico Towards Sustainability

Posted by & filed under Nature, News.

Earlier this week, we posted an article about the wonderful documentary series that the Green Living Project and the Mexican Tourism Board have created, showcasing several eco-projects happening right now in Mexico. In addition to the great projects showcased in their series, Journey Mexico would like to acknowledge two additional projects that doing excellent work and pushing Mexico forward towards a sustainable future:

Dr. Wallace “J.” Nichols and his Blue Angels – JM president, Zach Rabinor, and Dr. Wallace J. Nichols have a long standing history/friendship dating back to 2002 when J hired Zach as the private lands coordinator at Wild Coast, a start-up, non-profit working to protect coastal environments and endangered species along the Baja Peninsula.

J has determined that the most efficient way for him to continue his innovative approach to conservation is to raise private funding through 100 Blue Angels, an organization of patrons who financially contribute monthly to J and his work. Journey Mexico and the other Blue Angels allow J “To remain an independent scientist, advocate, and communicator in a time when new ideas and the freedom to express them are sorely needed.”

For more information on how you can contribute to the work of Dr. Nichols, visit the Blue Angels Page.

The Groupo Tortuguero – Founded in 1999, the Groupo Tortuguero is a network of like-minded individuals communities, organizations, and institutions from around the world, dedicated to the conservation of Sea Turtles. Through educating and empowering indigenous communities, Groupo Tortuguero has inspired a revolution of change, curbing the once rapid pace at which Sea Turtles of Mexico were heading towards extinction.

Twice a year, the Groupo Tortuguero holds meetings where participating members meet to discuss progress, findings, and new plans of actions. The group also comes together to host Sea Turtle festivals to run seminars, workshops and trainings. Journey Mexico is proud to sponsor local fishermen so that they may attend these meetings to learn about the current state of affairs, contribute findings and local knowledge, and take home and spread new tactics and ideas to improve the Sea Turtle population of their homelands.

For more information on how you can contribute to the incredible work of the Group Tortuguero, visit The Ocean Foundation.

Deepening the Culinary Experience in Oaxaca

Posted by & filed under Culinary Vacations, Oaxaca.

JM president, Zachary Rabinor, recently returned from another culinary trip to Oaxaca where he was guiding a film crew who were filming for a new Food and Travel TV show. When the team wasn’t shooting, Zach was able to continue researching the markets, restaurants, and cocinas of Oaxaca to add even more to the culinary experiences offered on our trips to Oaxaca.

Some of the new highlights available on Journey Mexico culinary trips to Oaxaca are:

  • Guided market tours and chef’s tables with Alejandro Ruiz – renowned chef from Casa Oaxaca
  • Home visits to indigenous families to learn about the origins of Chocolate, Corn, and Chile and their modern day uses in traditional Mexican Cuisine
  • Visits to coastal villages to see the complete process, from fishing to preparation, of creating the best ceviches, sea food cocktails, and fish recipes in the region

If you ever have any questions or would like more information about the cuisine in Oaxaca or about culinary trips to specific regions of Mexico, shoot us an email at [email protected] and we’ll be happy reply!

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Romantic Valentine’s Day Specials in Mexico

Posted by & filed under Luxury, Media, News, Newsletters and Promotions.

As temperatures in the US and Canada continue to plummet, there’s no better way to heat up your Valentines Day than by booking a romantic getaway in Mexico. Journey Mexico has compiled this collection of special Valentine’s Day promotions for you and your special someone. To create an unforgettably romantic Valentine’s getaway, contact Journey Mexico today!

Valentine’s Day Specials:

Maroma Resort & Spa

Coconut palms, pointed palapas and authentic Mexican flavors: Maroma offers luxurious living just steps from one of the world’s finest beaches. Enjoy the Mayan Riviera’s most elegant resort with our Pure Escapism Offer.

Valentine’s Day Promotion Includes:

  • Complimentary upgrade at time of booking
  • Welcome cocktail upon arrival
  • Daily a la carte breakfast
  • One snorkeling trip to the second largest reef in the world (per person, per stay)
  • Wake up morning coffee service in room, daily
  • Access to the fitness center
  • In-room, high speed Internet

Rate: $425 per night (a saving sof up to $500 per night)

Contact Journey Mexico for more details

Imanta Resort

Imanta Resorts Luxury Hotel and Signature Lots embodies a singular concept: the harmonious interaction of natural beauty in magnificent places with environmentally sensitive architectural design, bringing the individual charm of each site fully to life.

Valentine’s Day Promotion Includes:

  • Daily breakfast
  • Romantic dinner
  • Romantic turn down service
  • Two 60-minute spa treatments
  • One night free of charge (minimum stay of 3 nights)

Rate:

$6,200 per night for the Casona Jaguar (Maximum 6 adults: ideal for 2 couples), 3 rooms -2 master suites & 1 standard room. 10,000 square ft. Full kitchen, grill, beach, and pool.

$1,400 per night for the Oceanfront Casa (Maximum 2 adults), 2,500 square feet with private pool.

Contact Journey Mexico for more details

Las Alamandas

Las Alamandas’ “Valentine’s Special” sets the stage for a romantic getaway to Paradise Imagine yourself at Sunset on a deserted beach or in the privacy of your villa’s terrace… and let the magic of nature’s unspoiled beauty create the mood for romance with this special offer created especially for couples.

Valentine’s Day Promotion Includes:

  • 4th night in suite complimentary
  • Welcome cocktails upon arrival
  • Tropical fruit platter & beautiful bouquet of flowers in suite
  • Complimentary bottle of champagne in suite with chocolate strawberries
  • Candlelight Dinner for two on the beach with a heart shaped cake
  • Bottle of wine & plate of cheese at our beautiful Sunset Point on the night of your choice
  • Couples massage performed En Suite or under a shady palapa beside the ocean
  • Romantic montage in suite the night of your choice with candles and flowers
  • Daily Continental Breakfast in our Oasis, Palapa Beach Club Restaurants, or in the privacy and comfort of your suite
  • Use of all facilities: Fully Equipped and Air-conditioned Gym with ocean views, Lighted Tennis Courts, Beach Volleyball, Half Basketball Court, Croquet, Lawn Chess, Mountain Bikes, Horseback Riding on the beach, Kid’s Club, Art Gallery, and more!

Rate: $445 per night

Contact Journey Mexico for more details

Villa Montaña

Villa Montaña is a gorgeous colonial style boutique hotel that sits atop a tranquil hilltop overlooking the city of Morelia, known as the aristocrat of Colonial Cities, and its breathtaking Baroque Cathedral. Cottage style rooms and suites intermingle amid gardens and multi-level pathways to form an exclusive “mini-village” – the perfect setting for a romantic getaway.

Valentine’s Day Promotion Includes:

  • Third night free of charge
  • Welcome cocktail upon arrival
  • Continental breakfast for two
  • Basket of fresh fruit in your room
  • 1 city tour
  • 1 Swedish massage in spa per stay
  • 1 Hot Stone massage in spa per room
  • Sauna and Steam in spa

Rate:

$420 per night for a Standard Room

$530 per night for a Junior Suite

$620 per night for a Master Suite (1 Bedroom)

$780 per night for a Master Suite (2 Bedrooms)

Contact Journey Mexico for more details

Mexico Engages International Stakeholders at Tourism Convention

Posted by & filed under News.

This article is a Press Release from the Confederation of Mexico Chamber of Commerce

Mexican President Felipe Calderon Declares 2011 the Year of Mexican Tourism; While Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism Praised International Stakeholders at National Tourism Convention

Mexico’s third annual National Tourism Convention kicked-off yesterday in Mexico City. The convention is organized by the Confederation of Mexican Chambers of Commerce (CONCANACO SERVYTUR), presided by Jorge Dávila Flores. This year’s event is the first to bring together national and international stakeholders in Mexico‘s tourism industry, as well as government, and academia. Special guests include Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism Gloria Guevara Manzo. Industry speakers include Royal Caribbean Cruises Vice President of Government Relations for Latin America Michael Ronan; and Softec Mexico’s Associate Director Gene Towle.

President Calderon declared 2011 the year of Tourism at the convention’s inauguration. The President also announced he would sign a National Tourism Accord in February. These are among several actions that will promote international tourism and investment.

The Secretary of Tourism noted that Mexico is one of the top ten tourist destinations in the world thanks to national and international stakeholders. “But we have potential for further growth… and it is essential that government, legislators, the private sector and academia align efforts towards common actions,” she said.

The magnitude of the 2011 convention is the brainchild of Mr. Davila Flores, who, as president of CONCANACO SERVYTUR, encourages positive engagement of tourism-related issues. Mr. Davila Flores promotes the “Let’s speak and act positively for Mexico” slogan. He aims to motivate the nation’s private sector to build on the country’s positive attributes. “It is important to support a framework that encourages diversification, improves training and service quality,” he said.

The President mentioned that Mexican tourism grew by 10% in 2010. Mr. Davila Flores noted that tourism directly generates 2.5 million Mexican jobs and 5 million indirectly. Canada and the United States represent the largest source of international tourists for Mexico.

Sustainable Tourism in Mexico

Posted by & filed under Media, Nature, News.

A dedication to conservation and sustainable tourism has always been a core element of the Journey Mexico philosophy. We are honored to have had the opportunity to work with organizations like Pro Peninsula, COBI, and IMAC to help build towards a sustainable future in Mexico, and we are excited to see the Green Living Project and the Mexican Tourism Board showcase some of wonderful eco-efforts and programs in motion by documenting the initiatives in a series of beautiful videos. Below is the trailer for the project. You can find more videos from the Green Living Project at their Vimeo Page.

Sustainable Tourism in Mexico Trailer from Green Living Project on Vimeo.

Notes from the 2011 Virtuoso Luxe Report

Posted by & filed under News, Virtuoso.

Virtuoso Lux ReportOnce a year, the leading luxury travel network, Virtuoso, surveys its 6,000 member travel advisers in the United States and Canada about trends in travel and publishes the results in their annual Lux Report.

Below are some highlights from the report pertaining to travel to Mexico in 2011:

    • International trips of 8 days or longer and international trips of 6-7 days were the top two types of leisure trips that clients are booking for 2011

 

    • Mexico ranks number five in the top 10 international travel destinations for 2011

 

    • Mexico ranks number seven in the top 10 most popular family destinations for 2011

 

    • This year’s travelers are clearly looking for “unique, hands-on experiences that inspire a personal connection and will build lasting memories,” such as visiting local artisan workshops in Izamal, Yucatan; preparing, chocolate, corn, and chili dishes from raw ingredients to finish products with the indigenous community members of Oaxaca, and working to protect the sea-turtle population of the Baja Peninsula with the fishermen of local villages.

 

 

  • The number one reason people are traveling this year is because they are “seeking authentic experiences in new destinations“

New Flights to Mexico

Posted by & filed under News.

New Flights to MexicoYesterday, Virgin America launched their new non-stop flights to Cancun, Mexico from Los Angeles International Airport. In typical Virgin fashion, the much applauded airline put together a special inaugural flight by partnering with VH1 for a special, in-flight Top-20 Countdown show called “Countdown to Cancun,” which was hosted by the Goo Goo Dolls and will air on January 29th at 9am. Read more at Virgin America’s Press Release.

Beginning March 3rd of this year (pending Mexican government approval), United Airlines will begin daily flights between Los Angeles and Guadalajara. Earlier this month, United added an additional flight to their existing service between LA and Mexico City.

“Within the first six months of this year,” according to spokeswoman Sai Irene Sanchez Correa, Volaris (known as a low-cost airline) will launch flights between Guadalajara and Fresno Yosemite Airport in California.

As interest in traveling to Mexico continues to rise, more flights to Mexican destinations are expected to be added by several more airlines before the year’s end.

Ask JM: Two Weeks in Yucatan

Posted by & filed under Journey Mexico TV, Media, Yucatan.

Welcome to the first webisode of our new series, Ask Journey Mexico, where we will be fielding questions about all things Mexico including, food, cultures, adventure, safety, geography, logistics, lodging, luxury, and more!

Today’s question was taken from the Lonely Planet forum, Thorn Tree. If you have any questions about travel in Mexico or Mexico in general, please email them to [email protected].

Peter Greenberg Comments on the Safety of Mexico

Posted by & filed under Health and Safety, News.

Peter Greenberg Comments on Safety in MexicoPeter Greenberg is one of the most trusted and influential figures in international travel. For decades, Greenberg has reported, edited, and produced for major media outlets such as: NBC’s Today, CNBC, MSNBC, ABC’s Good Morning America, America Online, and Men’s Health magazine. Greenberg runs a website, PeterGreenberg.com, and a radio show called Peter Greenberg Worldwide through which he speaks to international travel enthusiasts around the world.

Greenberg also runs a column on the AARP‘s website called Ask Peter Greenberg, on which he recently fielded a comment sent to him titled: “Is Mexico Safe for Travel?” Greenberg subtitled his response “Don’t believe the hype, but do be aware of your surroundings” and went on talk about how, yes, there is violence in Mexico but that the majority of the reported violence is focused in a few border areas, far removed from popular tourist destinations like Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Maya (largely echoing our thoughts on the matter found in our Journey Mexico Statement on Violence and Safety).

Below are some of the stand-out quotes from Greenberg’s Response:

  • “The fact is tourism to Mexico is up 20 per cent this year, and that includes 5 million Americans!”
  • “Danger is usually limited to border cities such as Tijuana, Nuevo Laredo and Ciudad Juarez”
  • “Take a look at a map, and you’ll see how far the resort towns are from the border”
  • “Resorts are fully aware of the negative perception of Mexico as of late, and are doing their part to tighten security and make guests feel safe.”
  • “That doesn’t mean you should leave your common sense at the door.”
  • “Mexico continues to be a cost-friendly destination for American travelers, and there are great experiences to be had down there. Be smart, don’t be governed by fear, and you’ll have a good time.”

For the full article, visit “Is Mexico Safe for Travel.”

2010 Holiday Travel to Mexico Up from 2009

Posted by & filed under News.

This article was written by Gay Nagle Myers and has been re-posted from Travel Weekly.

Tourism officials in Mexico’s resort destinations of Cancun, Cozumel and the Riviera Maya on the Mexican Caribbean coast and in Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco on the Pacific coast reported that holiday traffic was up from a year ago.

Acapulco Mayor Jose Luis Avila Sanchez said hotels in that city were nearly full over the Christmas-New Year period.

Cancun’s hotel occupancy rate was running at 77% in December, compared with 51% at the same time last year, according to Rodrigo de la Pena Segura, president of the city’s hotel association. Segura said that the holiday period was expected to top out at 85% occupancy.

For all of Mexico, the number of foreign visitors and domestic travelers was expected to total 16.1 million throughout the month of December.

Tourism revenue in Mexico’s resort areas increased 7.1% from January through October 2010, compared with the same months in 2009, according to the Mexican Tourism Ministry. Total visitor spending for that 10-month stretch amounted to $9.8 billion, helped in part by numerous low-cost tropical packages flooding the marketplace.

“Safety is a problem only in some parts of Mexico, and crime has not affected the major tourist areas of the country,” said Miguel Torruco Marques, president of the National Tourism Confederation. The NTC projected that the overall visitor count for 2010 would total 22.4 million foreigners, a 4.7% jump from 2009.

American Express reported that air travel to Mexico grew 6% in 2010 compared with 2009.

Robot Explores New Tunnel At Teotihuacan

Posted by & filed under Culture, News.

robot in ancient mexican tunnelHere’s an interesting update for fans of archeological travel: archeologists have successfully deployed a camera-armed robot into the ancient tunnel running under the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent at Teotihuacan that was discovered earlier this year.

The tunnel, built over two thousand years ago 14 meters below surface and believed to run over 100 meters in length, leads to three sealed chambers, which, once opened, scientists hope will contain the burial sites of the areas ancient rulers and unlock longstanding mysteries about their fascinating culture.

While the robot was able to successfully explore a section of the tunnel, there still remains much rock and debris to be removed before archeologists will be able to explore the tunnel themselves. This robotic exploration of the tunnel marks only the second time in a world history that a robot has been used in archeological research. You can learn more about this recent achievement here.

Mexico City Testimonial

Posted by & filed under Media, Mexico City, Things We're Proud Of.

Mexico-City-TestimonialThe following is a testimonial from Joseph Gandolfo of The Travel Center/AMEX

Descending into the Mexico City airport, you immediately get the feeling this is going to be a nightmare to navigate. The urban sprawl can be seen in all directions, with even the surrounding mountains seemingly unable to contain it. Fortunately as we arrived and exited passport control and customs, Matteo [Luthi] from Journey Mexico was there to greet us, and to put us at ease.

From that moment we were in great hands, all those connected with Journeys Mexico; the drivers, guides, those who planned our itinerary behind the scenes, all were professional, informative and friendly.

This being my very first visit to Mexico City, I was astounded at all it has to offer. This is a city with European sensibilities, yet with a definite pounding Latino heart under its skin. We were guided through a maze of streets, some bustling with vendors and shoppers as colorful as any outdoor casbah, then drove down elegant boulevards lined with brownstones, villas, restaurants, bars and sophisticated boutiques whose familiar names adorn storefronts in all modern metropolitan cities. This is the ZOCALO, or the cultural heart of the city, also a U.N. designated World Heritage site (1987).

We visited the main square, the Frida Kahlo Museum, the Cathedral and had only scratched the surface.

The Anthropology Museum was a highlight of the city tour as it continued the following day. We were all in awe of the incredible beauty of the displayed artifacts and all agreed we could have spent an entire day learning about the Mayas and Aztecs as well as the other lesser known civilizations that occupied this geographical location throughout the centuries.

Perhaps the most impressive site of all is located about 30 miles to the northeast: the staggering pyramids and ancient abandoned metropolis of Teotihuacan. The long, wide Avenue of the Dead, and the monolithic Pyramid of the Sun as well as the Pyramid of the Moon rise to the sky leaving you to imagine what a glorious civilization this must have been.

Without our guides and the help of Journey Mexico we would never had be able to see so much and cover so much ground as efficiently as we did in such a short time. The MAPTA group is thankful and appreciative for all their help.

JOSEPH E. GANDOLFO

THE TRAVEL CENTER/AMEX