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Our Top 10 rental deals at the moment Casa Amore 50% discount!! Now from USD11,000 per night Plus stay 7 nights pay 6 http://www.casaamore.com/ Amanecer From USD1500 per night http://www.lapuntarealty.com/amanecer/ Punta Vista Residences Stay 4 nights pay 3 Stay 6 nights pay 5 Stay 7 nights or longer get 30% discount http://www.puntavistasignature.com/ Kalika From USD1950 [...]
Mexico Travel Guidelines Now ‘Flexible’
Dena Richardson/KFOX News Reporter Posted: 5:37 pm MDT May 28, 2009Updated: 6:32 pm MDT May 28, 2009 EL PASO, Texas — Officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the June 1 deadline requiring a passport to return from Mexico and Canada is set and will not be pushed back. “However, we are not envisioning returning, [...]
Virtuoso Helps Mexico Shine
May 28, 2009 | By: Ruthanne Terrero | LuxuryTravelAdvisor Virtuoso raised a rallying cry of support last night at the St. Regis hotel in New York, where it hosted a trade show for theMexico Tourism Board’s New York office and 20 Mexico suppliers who are part of the Virtuoso network. In attendance were member agencies from the New York area. The [...]
Mexico: Come back to see us
Cruise ship from Galveston will arrive Saturday in Cozumel By DUDLEY ALTHAUS HOUSTON CHRONICLE, May 28, 2009, 1:00AM MEXICO CITY — As the first cruise ship in more than a month docked at Cozumel on Wednesday, desperate officials and islanders greeted disembarking passengers with mariachi bands, folkloric dancers and a free vacation for a lucky [...]
Britons ready to return to Mexico
British travellers are set to return to Mexico in greater numbers, despite lingering fears over swine flu. By Oliver Smith London Telegraph Last Updated: 2:49PM BST 27 May 2009 Last month’s outbreak of the H1N1 virus, which led to the cancellation of thousands of flights and holidays, saw bookings plummet by around 80 per cent, [...]
Poll shows Americans cutting back on summer travel
05/27/2009 10:08 AM By: Web Staff NATIONWIDE — According to a new study, the days of extravagant vacations – at least for half of Americans – are on hold. A new USA TODAY Gallup Poll suggests fewer people will be traveling this summer season, opting instead to stay close to home. The number of people [...]
Passport deadline approaches
May 27, 2009 – 9:05 PM By LAURA TILLMAN, The Brownsville Herald In less than a week, when travelers return to the United States from Mexico or Canada they will be required to have a passport, enhanced driver’s license, SENTRI or NEXUS card. Come Monday morning the driver’s license that once provided re-entry to the [...]
Mexico’s battered image yields travel deals
By Stephanie Chen CNN May 26, 2009 (CNN) — Mexico’s tourism industry has endured some brutal punches this year. First, the global financial crisis hampered vacation spending. Then, escalating cartel drug violence scared some travelers. Business went from bad to worse in late April, with the outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus, also known as swine [...]
Costa Careyes Chic – Casa Dos Estrellas now asking 5.5m USD
Casa Dos Estrellas, a jewel of Careyes, is a Coastal Pacific Mexican storybook seven bedroom villa created by world renown architect Manolo Mestre. Crested high on a cliff, Casa Dos Estrellas is a sensual and glamourous tropical retreat with dreamy views of Careyes from every room and from the rooftops, spellbinding 360 views of all [...]
Placido Domingo To Front Mexican Tourism Campaign
Luxist.com Posted May 26th 2009 7:01PM by Deidre Woollard The push to bring tourism back to Mexico is gaining momentum. A few weeks ago we wrote about the swine flu guarantee being offered by some resorts. But now the government is getting involved with a $90 million campaign to tempt tourists back to Mexico in [...]
Mexico Tourism Uses Deep Discounts to Lure Back Travelers
After being battered and beaten down by the swine flu epidemic for almost a month, Mexico is fighting back in an attempt to lure Americans (and other foreign visitors) in and restore the country’s image as a safe place to stay and play. Americans make up 80 percent of the total number of visitors to [...]
1 Million Californians Seek Medical Care In Mexico Annually
Driven by rising health care costs at home, nearly 1 million Californians cross the border each year to seek medical care in Mexico, according a new paper by UCLA researchers and colleagues published today in the journal Medical Care.An estimated 952,000 California adults sought medical, dental or prescription services in Mexico annually, and of these, [...]
How new hotels can transform emerging markets
May 26, 09 | 1:58 am By Laura Kalcevic In a recent assignment, HVS was asked to project the likely market behavior of a proposed luxury hotel in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. Presently, the Zihuatanejo market features two luxury and two upscale properties, with up to four new projects being proposed in similar or superior service categories. [...]
Mexico’s Shock Doctrine – The Swine Flu Hype
The Swine Flu Hype Mexico’s Shock Doctrine By JOHN ROSS Upon returning to Mexico City after 100 days in Gringolandia dealing with a personal health crisis, I was met at the door of the downtown hotel where I have bedded down for the past quarter century by a uniformed security guard in jackboots and blue [...]
Politician’s Novel Idea for Mexican Tourism: Statue of Swine Flu Survivor
Édgar Hernández, at home in La Gloria, Mexico. He may have been the first of more than 12,000 confirmed cases of swine flu. By MARC LACEY Published: May 25, 2009 New York Times MEXICO CITY – Édgar Hernández, the Mexican kindergartner who is the first person known to have contracted the swine flu now circling [...]
Mexico, US, Canada announce swine flu deaths
Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) – Authorities in Mexico announced three more swine flu deaths and the United States and Canada one more death each as the world’s largest vaccine maker signed a deal with the United States to produce a swine flu vaccine. The World Health Organization says at least 46 countries have confirmed more [...]
Calderon presents the campaign “Vive Mexico” to reactivate the national tourism
Mexican President, Felipe Calderon, met today with entertainment, sports and culture personalities at Los Pinos official residence, during the “Vive Mexico” campaign launching ceremony, aimed to promote and rescue the tourism industry affected by the Influenza H1N1 outbreaks. Calderón announced that the goverment will invest 1 thousand and 2 hundred million pesos in campaigns to promote the country and [...]
The H1N1 Virus – A Challenge for Mexico and the World
Monday, May 25, 2009 By Allan Wall Mexdata.info It’s commonly referred to as the “Swine Flu,” and in some circles as the “Mexican Flu” due to its outbreak in Mexico. Clinically it’s known as “novel influenza A (H1N1).” Whatever you call it, it’s still spreading worldwide. Besides the threat to public health, H1N1 raises a [...]
Mexico and the Price of Economic Consequence
By Bruce D. Greenberg, MAI, SRA, ASA The Mexican people should be commended and congratulated by the international community for placing the health and safety of citizens and the world first, regardless of economic impact. Through the leadership of its government and the strength of its community, Mexico successfully slowed the advancement of the A(H1N1) [...]
Oceanside Luxury Made Affordable (Think Mexico)
by DEIRDRE VAN DYK Time Magazine Mexico Beckons. On May 15 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifted its ban on nonessential travel to Mexico. Now, a month since the height of concern over swine flu outbreak, the country’s resorts are on a mission to coax back skittish tourists. Twenty Mexican hotel chains [...]
World economy stabilizing; has avoided “utter catastrophe”: Krugman
ABU DHABI (Reuters) – The world economy has avoided “utter catastrophe” and industrialized countries could register growth this year, Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman said on Monday. “I will not be surprised to see world trade stabilize, world industrial production stabilize and start to grow two months from now,” Krugman told a seminar. [...]
PVSR: Punta Vista Signature Residences – Models open
PVSR – Punta Vista Signature Residences are 22 majestic and modern beachfront condos on the luxuriously tranquil Punta de Mita peninsula, where the beaches are best and the constellations come out at night. North Shore Puerto Vallarta get better the further you go. Playa Punta de Mita, on the inside tip of the Punta de [...]
Hold The Panic: Swine Flu Falls Short Of Pandemic
By Richard Knox NPR.org Listen to the full story Why has the World Health Organization decided not to call the swine flu a pandemic, even though more than three weeks ago it declared that a pandemic was “imminent?” Why No Flu Pandemic? Define Pandemic. Margaret Chan, the World Health Organization’s director-general, has decided not to [...]
Real Estate Scams in Latin America to Avoid
By Domenick Buonamici / May 09 Escape from America Magazine It’s no secret why thousands of people choose to move to Latin America each year to invest and retire. The pleasant weather, fresh food, welcoming locals and great property deals all are big draws. But buyer beware, here are a few of the common scams out [...]
W.H.O. to Rewrite Its Pandemic Rules
By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. Published: May 22, 2009 Bowing to pressure, the World Health Organization announced Friday that it would rewrite its rules for alerting the world to new diseases, meaning the swine flu circling the globe will probably never be declared a full-fledged pandemic. Dr. Keiji Fukuda, the deputy director general making the W.H.O. announcement, said that he [...]
Mexico Goes On Sale
By SARAH NASSAUER The Wall Street Journal With a clean bill of health and a lifted travel ban, Mexico tries to draw tourists back with deals and perks. Everything for the wedding was ready — the on-site florists, photographers, and a 35-foot acrylic platform built over the blue ocean water at the Rosewood Mayakoba resort near [...]
Villa Leopolda’s Saga Continues
Villa Leopolda on the South Coast of France in Cap Ferrat was once hailed as the most expensive property in the world. Fast forward a little over one year and the price tag of this once former glorified real estate has not only plunged, but dive-bombed right down to near nothing – compared to the previous [...]
United States Consulate General Guadalajara – Update Travel Alert
United States Consulate General Guadalajara PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO AS MANY AMERICAN CITIZENS AS POSSIBLE Update Travel Alert TRAVEL ALERT: MEXICO 1. The Department of State wishes to inform U.S. citizens traveling to and residing in Mexico that on May 15 2009, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [...]
A kind request…
http://www.newlifemexico.com/ Dear friends, Due to the economic situation we are facing at this time, local charities are finding it hard to cope with the low amount of funds and donations… Please, if you yourselves can help or if you have any clients/friends coming into town soon and they are able to bring a few [...]
Keeping you updated on what’s going on in Puerto Vallarta
Dear Friends: We are so happy that countries like United States, Canada and other countries in Europe have removed the warning against all non-essential travel to Mexico. We would like to keep you inform about the 0 (zero) number of registered cases of the A H1N1 virus in Puerto Vallarta which is one of the [...]
Cafe des Artistes del Mar’s Chef Wins Copa Thierry Blouet
For the fourth year in a row the high profile culinary contest, Thierry Blouet Jalisco Nayarit, was conducted with great success. Well-known chef Thierry Blouet seeks to encourage the skill development of young talents in the culinary field via this competition. Participants from distinguished restaurants such as Hotel Velas Vallarta, Tikul, Presidente Intercontinental, Tino & [...]
Mexico and AeroMexico welcomes back travellers
Travel Blackboard Thursday, 21 May 2009 After many countries, including the United State and Canada, lifted the travel warnings concerning travel to Mexico, major industry players like the Mexico Tourism Board and AeroMexico are encouraging travellers back. With local tourism industry decimated by fears of the Influenza A(H1N1) virus, Mexico is hoping for a swift [...]
Mexico Tries to Woo Back Tourists
By MICHELLE HIGGINS NY Times Published: May 24, 2009 THERE may be no better time to visit Mexico than now. It’s been about a month since swine flu scares sent tourists fleeing, but with new cases of the H1N1 virus on the wane, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifted its ban on nonessential travel to Mexico on May 15. [...]
Linda Ellerbee Dispels Myths About Mexico
Journalist, producer and author, Linda Ellerbee, is a resident of New York but spends a great deal of time here in Puerto Vallarta. Over her multi-decade career in radio and television news, she has proverbially seen it all and is known throughout the industry for presenting intelligent and well-written news stories, her impressive work being [...]
Go 2 Guy: On the take in Puerto Vallarta
By JIM MOORE SPECIAL TO SEATTLEPI.COM PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico — Ninety-nine percent of the time, unemployment sucks. Welcome to my one percent. I’m sitting on a white-cushioned chaise lounge at the St. Regis Punta Mita in a scene from a travel magazine. The infinity pool is behind me, the Pacific Ocean is in front of me, [...]
Do not pass go: Travelers to Canada, Mexico, Carribean must show passport, not birth certificate
Monday, May 18th 2009, 8:27 AM BY JASON R. RICH Don’t leave home without it! Starting June 1, pleading, begging and crying won’t likely be much help to forgetful Americans planning to visit neighboring countries such asCanadaorMexico, or manyCaribbeandestinations. Without a valid U.S. passport, travelers likely won’t be allowed to exit theUnited States. Those who do [...]
Foreign & Commonwealth Office reviews Mexico travel advice
Christy Wyatt 18 May 2009 FCO no longer advising against travel following swine flu outbreak The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) is no longer advising against all but essential travel to Mexico, following the global outbreak of swine flu. The FCO revised its travel advice late last week. A statement on the organisation’s website says: [...]
Handshakes, high fives return as US flu fears wane
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US traditions of handshakes at graduation and slapping a high five during sports competitions were banned when fears of a swine flu pandemic were at their peak, but are gingerly making a comeback. “Did you see that? We touched skin,” an 11-year-old boy said after he and his baseball teammates tapped [...]
Canada Lifts Travel Advisory To Mexico One Month After H1N1 Outbreak
Monday May 18, 2009 CityNews.ca Staff The H1N1 virus is still a global threat, with the World Health Organization planning to keep the alert at its second-highest level. In Canada, flu activity for this time of year is certainly abnormal, noted Dr. Allison McGeer at Mt. Sinai Hospital. “On a relative scale there’s not a [...]
U.S. cancels warning against Mexico travel as flu threat wanes
By Kristin Jackson Seattle Times Travel staff U.S. authorities no longer are advising Americans to avoid traveling to Mexico because of swine flu. The U.S. State Department and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control lifted their warnings against nonessential trips to Mexico on Friday. “There is evidence that the Mexican outbreak is slowing down in many [...]
Carnival Cruise Lines to resume visits to Mexico this month
By Hugo Martín May 16, 2009 LA Times Carnival Corp., the world’s largest cruise line operator, announced Friday that it would resume visits to Mexican ports later this month. The decision came after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it would no longer recommend that Americans avoid non-essential travel to the country [...]
CDC downgrades Mexico travel warning
By Kitty Bean Yancey, USA TODAY The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dropped their recommendation Friday that U.S. travelers avoid Mexico because of the flu outbreak. The Travel Health Warning recommending against non-essential travel to Mexico, which went into effect April 27, is “downgraded to a Travel Health Precaution for Mexico,” the health agency said Friday [...]
Swine flu travel warning lifted for Mexico
LA TImes The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, Friday lifted its recommendation that U.S. citizens avoid nonessential travel to Mexico because of the swine flu outbreak there, and the U.S. State Department followed suit. Cruise and tour operators wasted no time trumpeting the news, although port calls may not resume immediately. In lifting its warning, the CDC [...]
UK lifts Mexico travel restrictions
6 hours ago Press Association British travellers should feel free to go to Mexico after a fall in the number of new swine flu cases, the Foreign Office has said. Holiday makers and business travellers had been advised against all non-essential travel to the country. But the FCO changed its advice, with a spokesman saying: [...]
CDC seeing more regular flu cases now; downgrading warnings about travel to Mexico
By MARILYNN MARCHIONE – 3 hours ago Associated Press U.S. health officials are seeing a surprisingly high number of cases of ordinary, seasonal flu at a time when the flu season typically peters out. About half of people recently testing positive for the flu have the new swine flu virus, Dr. Daniel Jernigan of the Centers [...]
Come back to Mexico – come back
by Karen Fawcett TRIPSO The Mexican Tourist Board is launching a multi-million dollar investment plan that will include a global public relations campaign. It is also calling for U.S. authorities to lift the travel ban with the hope that doing so will restore confidence in Mexico’s being one of the world’s top tourist destinations. Its tourism [...]
Swine Flu Takes Toll On Mexico Tourism Industry
by Jason Beaubien NPR - Morning Edition May 14, 2009 · Americans Vicky Long and John Papadakous are savoring their Caribbean vacation in Mexico. The swine flu outbreak virtually emptied the white-sand beaches of Cancun, along with its bars and hotels, meaning there is plenty of staff to pamper the couple from Baltimore. The swine flu [...]
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Travel Alert – Mexico – H1N1 Lifted
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATEBureau of Consular Affairs Mexico – H1N1 Lifted May 15, 2009 The Department of State wishes to inform U.S. citizens traveling to and residing in Mexico that on May 15 2009, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifted its recommendation that American citizens avoid all nonessential travel to [...]
Golf, Not Swine Pandemic, at The St. Regis in Punta Mita
Word on beach is that there is no swine flu in Riviera Nayarit. Instead, pricey luxury golfing packages are spreading quickly through the stretch of Mexican paradise. To reassure the traveling public, Dr. Omar Reynozo Gallegos, the Minister of Health for the state of Nayarit and Dr. José Ángel Córdova Villalobos, National Secretary of Health [...]
Mexican tourism could lose $4 billion from flu scare
Tue May 12, 2009 2:20am BST Reuters MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico could lose up to $4 billion (2.65 billion pounds) in tourism income after foreign visitors cancelled trips to popular beach resorts and colonial towns due to the flu scare, Tourism Minister Rodolfo Elizondo said on Monday. Mexico was the epicentre of a swine [...]
Mexico’s Health Chief Receives Plaudits
By William Booth and Joshua Partlow Washington Post Foreign Service Monday, May 11, 2009 MEXICO CITY — The face of the flu outbreak in Mexico is all bushy eyebrows and droopy mustache, and it speaks in tones deeply somber but not quite funereal. The face belongs to a previously obscure gastroenterologist named José Ángel Córdova, the health secretary, [...]
Mexican children return to school
Swine flu has kept classrooms empty for the last two weeks. Armed with new hygiene guidelines, teachers line up students and turn away anyone who looks sick. By Ken Ellingwood and Cecilia Sanchez May 12, 2009 LA Times Reporting from Mexico City — With a quick health check and a dollop of hand [...]
Flu outbreak deeply affects Mexico’s hotels
07 May 2009 7:47 AM By Jan Freitag VP, Global Development, STR HotelNewsNow.com columnist jan@smithtravelresearch.com HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—Prolonged economic headwinds and the global recession have caused severe declines in leisure and business demands worldwide, and until last week, Mexico’s hotel industry saw declines in line with that of other countries around the world. However, the outbreak [...]
Battered Mexico prepares tourism recovery campaign
By: Michelle Baran May 08, 2009 Travel Weekly As Mexico’s tourism industry continues to evaluate the extent of the financial damage caused by the swine flu scare, the Mexico Tourism Board is preparing a promotional campaign that it will launch as soon as swine flu is safely contained. Mexico Finance Secretary Agustin Carstens approved a [...]
Flu? What Flu?
by ELISABETH MALKIN Published: May 8, 2009 MEXICO CITY — If you are looking for a cheap travel destination, try Mexico. Short of war, Mexico has endured about the worst calamity that can befall a country’s tourism industry over the last few weeks. A few people who had traveled here came down with what looked, initially, like [...]
Swine flu is windfall for some tourist spots
By TRAVIS REED – 4 hours ago Associated Press The cruise Zenaiva Cervantes booked was to stop in sun-drenched beach cities on the Mexican Riviera. The cruise she took? That landed her in Seattle, where she pulled her arms tightly to her chest as she debarked on a damp, 50-degree morning. “We wanted to relax in [...]
Jackman to attend Mexico premiere
Saturday, 9 May 2009 12:32 UK BBC NEWS Actor Hugh Jackman has been given the all-clear to attend the Mexican premiere of his latest movie X-Men Origins: Wolverine later this month. The star’s scheduled appearances there had been cancelled because of the swine flu outbreak. According to Jackman’s Twitter page, he intends “to provide [...]
Mexico flu response blends into election campaign
Amid midterm electioneering, President Felipe Calderon touts his government’s ‘firm decisions’ and says the world is in Mexico’s debt. But an opposition leader points to a ‘virus of ineptitude.’ By Ken Ellingwood May 9, 2009 LA Times Reporting from Mexico City — Mexican President Felipe Calderon sounded victorious when he went before his nation [...]
The Crisis Came. Mexico Didn’t Fail. Surprised?
By LARRY ROHTER Published: May 9, 2009 New York Times MEXICO CITY – Just for argument’s sake, let’s compare Mexico’s management of the swine flu epidemic that broke out here last month with China’s handling of SARS in 2002. The Chinese initially tried to deny there was an outbreak, were slow to combat its spread [...]
Bustle returns to Mexico streets
BBC News Thursday, 7 May 2009 17:06 UK High schools, universities, bars and nightclubs are reopening their doors in Mexico as restrictions are lifted following the outbreak of swine flu. Residents of Mexico City expressed relief as ordinary life was resumed in the usually bustling capital. But President Felipe Calderon, and world health officials, have [...]
Even as Fears of Flu Ebb, Mexicans Feel Stigma
By MARC LACEY and ANDREW JACOBS Published: May 4, 2009 NY Times MEXICO CITY — Medical experts are calling the new influenza virus A(H1N1), but for many Mexicans it is simply a scarlet A. From Chile, where sports officials declined to host Mexican soccer teams, to China, where the authorities forced even healthy resident Mexicans and Mexican travelers into [...]
Swine flu scare: Great updates on Puerto Vallarta from the Mexican press
Ed Walsh SF Gay Travel Examiner Thanks to Don Pickens, the owner of Puerto Vallarta’s luxury gay resort, Casa Cupula, for these very informative updates. He just posted the updates on Yahoo’s Puerto Vallarta Gay Travel Group. Scroll down to the bottom for information on how you can translate the Spanish articles into English. Here Don’s update from [...]
Mexico, Once in Demand, Loses Its Brides and Grooms
By MICHELLE HIGGINS Published: May 3, 2009 ADD swine flu to the list of potential pre-wedding worries. Many couples who had planned on destination weddings in Mexico this spring or summer are now scrambling to find an alternative spot or postponing their events indefinitely. “My situation right now is completely up in the air,” said Natalia Velasquez, a [...]
United, Continental slash flights to Mexico
By Julie Johnsson | Tribune staff reporter 5:27 PM CDT, May 1, 2009 United Airlines said late Friday that it would drop 60 percent of its flights to Mexico beginning Tuesday as fewer travelers head south of the border because of swine flu concerns. Chicago-based United plans to reduce its weekly roundtrip flights between the U.S. and [...]
Flu response downshifts as fears lessen
Chicago Breaking News May 1, 2009 8:47 PM On a day when federal health officials confirmed the first cases of suspected swine flu in Illinois, it also seemed clearer to health officials today that this strain of flu wasn’t becoming the killer once feared, and the state’s reaction to the outbreak downshifted in response. The flu [...]
Latin America: Mexico Senate Approves Bill Decriminalizing Drug Possession
The Mexican Senate Tuesday approved a bill that would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs in a bid to undercut Mexican drug trafficking organizations and free police to go after them instead of drug users. The bill was backed by the conservative government of President Felipe Calderon. Under the bill, personal use [...]
Scientists see this flu strain as relatively mild
Genetic data indicate this outbreak won’t be as deadly as that of 1918, or even the average winter. By Karen Kaplan and Alan Zarembo April 30, 2009 LA Times As the World Health Organization raised its infectious disease alert level Wednesday and health officials confirmed the first death linked to swine flu inside U.S. borders, [...]
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