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USEFUL FACTS

Cancun is about 10 hours by
air from the UK.

It is on the east coast of the
Yucatan Peninsular, an area
of soft rock in which all the
rivers run underground.

Cancun has its own tourist
police, helping keep the area
one of the safest in Mexico.

Avoid the Spring Break period,
When the resort is overrun by
Crowds of American college
Students, and the hurricane
Season in August/September.

The excursion to Chechen Itza
(below) takes about two
hours each way.

Latest News for Travellers                                                       .

*   For those that missed the Terra Cotta Warriors visit to the UK last year, there’s one
last chance to see this truly unique display before it returns to China. The blockbuster
exhibition, Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor, makes its final U.S.
stop at the National Geographic Museum in Washington DC this autumn and winter,
opening on the 19th November until March 31st. The city is offering culture-minded
travellers the chance to experience the exhibition as part of a dedicated “Weekend
Warriors” promotion that runs until December. Travellers who book two-night “Weekend
Warriors” hotel packages can enjoy exclusive access to any-day, any-time tickets to see
the exhibition, plus get a free breakfast for two or valet parking at their hotel to make
for an unforgettable weekend. Check it out on www.washington.org                               .  

*   Shoppers seeking traditional and inexpensive gifts this Christmas should head to the
Budapest Christmas Market starting at the end of November and take advantage of a
winter promotion that offers a ‘free’ night at more than 60 of the city’s leading hotels.
The Budapest Christmas Market takes place in the central Vörösmarty Square from 29
November until 24 December and takes visitors back to a different era where Christmas
wasn’t all about commercialism. Traditional arts, crafts and Christmas trinkets can be
bought at the many stalls, delicious food and drink are on offer, including fresh baked
gingerbread and hot wine and the overall atmosphere is magical. To really get the most
out of your visit the Hungarian National Tourist Office is running a special winter
promotion in conjunction with more than 60 of the leading hotels whereby guests get
either ‘three nights for the price of two’ or ‘four nights for the price of three’.                     .

*   Haven Holidays’ new brochure will be released on November 1st. But our tip is to nab
next year’s holiday whilst the current brochure is still valid & book a break at 2009 prices.
The savings are significant with three night weekend breaks next Spring at a number of
their family holiday parks from as little as £95 for a family of four in a ‘Superior’ two
bedroom holiday home. Prices include a wide range of activities and access to excellent
facilities including heated indoor and outdoor pools, sports activities & indoor ‘FunZones’.
Rhumour has it that Haven are spending significantly on new developments over the

winter so many of their 35 parks are likely to have even more to offer families next year.

A few decades ago Cancun was just a small, fairly bland seaside
town, on Mexico’s Caribbean coastline. The main tourist area we
see today was (and still is) actually an island, separated by a lagoon
and two canals from the mainland. It wasn’t until 1970 that building
work began, and the development of what has become a refined,
top quality resort slowly evolved.                            .

The tourist zone of Cancun is essentially built along a gently curving
strip of land, with the sea on one side and the lagoon on the other.
Wherever you choose your hotel, therefore, it’s likely to be on the
waterfront. The beach has wide expanses of soft white sand,
continuously washed by the surf of the warm Caribbean. It seldom
gets too busy, but its worth remembering that the next sizeable
landmass is Cuba, around 200 miles to the east, so on a windy day
the sea can get quite a swell on.                                        .

If your hotel fronts the lagoon, you don’t have the sand, but you will
have a peaceful waterside to enjoy, with small boats, wildlife, and
the most spectacular sunsets.                                  .

The whole tourist ‘strip’ has a very modern, clean feel, and the
newest hotels are taking on an almost ‘vegas-like’ style in their over
the top luxury and designs. In the centre, there is a small designer
shopping area, a huge Hard Rock Café, a Rainforest Café, Jimmy
Buffet’s Margaritaville, and an assortment of lively beach clubs and
bars. A top quality choice of food in both hotels and restaurants can
be washed down with local wine, and if you feel like a dip you can
swim with the dolphins at the Aquarium.                                          .

If you’ve a head for heights, the observation tower will give you a
panoramic view across the whole resort, the lagoon, and across the
azure blue waters to the small islands in the distance. It will also give
you a guidebook style narration and play you some annoying music
as you ascend, but given the reward at the top, that can be forgiven.

A mile or two off the coast lies the second longest coral reef in the
world, drawing scuba divers, snorkelers, and the less energetic in
glass bottomed boats. Even the most experienced underwater
adventurers are awe struck by the palette of colourful marine and
plant life just a few feet below the surface. Take a few slices of
bread, and you’ll have a myriad of brightly gleaming fish all trying
to eat from your hand.                                   .

A few miles further on is the tiny island of Contoy, home to bustling
colonies of birds. The island has no inhabitants, and visitor numbers
are strictly limited, so book as soon as you are able if you want a
trip there. It’s a true haven of wildlife, including saltwater crocodiles
in the swamps, and stingrays in the crystal clear waters near the jetty.
A true deserted island paradise.                                    .

Far from deserted is Chechen Itza, the sprawling Mayan city with
its iconic pyramid that adorns so many souvenirs from the area. A
couple of hours on a coach from the resort, it is breathtaking in its
magnificence. The climb to the top is not for the faint hearted, as the
steps are steep and worn, but the view from the top leaves you
questioning how an ancient civilisation could ever have built such a
city. It has to rate amongst the world’s top historical sites, and as
you head back to the modern luxury of your hotel, you’ll be left with

as many questions as memories.