Mayan Prophecy & urban myths

Phew..that was a close call! Well, not really..but it was certainly fun with all of the speculation & interpretations of the Mayan calendar. What an interesting & advanced culture.

So why does the US press/media publish so many negative & inflammatory articles about Mexico? From the headlines & news articles it would appear that there is “war” raging on every street in the entire country. I have friends in Europe that wonder the same about us here in Atlanta. There seems to be at least one shooting incident almost every day in our fair city.

Because I work closely with a group of hotels in Cancun & Riviera Maya, the “safety” issue is frequently mentioned by clients. I generally tease about Americans being terrible with geography. (Which sadly is true based on several international survey results.) At my desk I have a  map of Mexico issued by the Mexican Secretary of Tourism. It highlights the true problem areas (including Ciudad Juarez across the border from El Paso) as well as the “safe zones” like Cancun/Riviera Maya. It also provides a better understanding of the size of the country and distances between major cities. Language is another concern. As Americans we want everyone to speak & understand English.  This is not a problem at all in Cancun/Riviera Maya. Most service personel you meet have been speaking English since grammar school! Tourism  is the number one business and Americans & Canadians are the majority of visitors.

For many years Atlanta has been one of the largest travel markets to Cancun/Riviera Maya. It is one of the closest, most reasonably priced vacations we can take from Atlanta. In a recent travel survey, Cancun/Riviera Maya was the number one favorite destination for US travelers.

So…is it really dangerous? No more so than Atlanta and many other cities across the US. Interestingly the percentage of crime is lower in Cancun/Riviera Maya and other tourist zones of Mexico than most major US cities! I always tell clients that the 2 biggest “dangers” are tequila (over indulging) and sunshine (over exposure). Cancun/Riviera Maya is a paradise– lots to see & do, culturally rich, friendly people, amazing food & service, great weather & beautiful beaches. Something for everyone- and great value for money.

Would I go?  YES..and I do  with frequency– usually 6 or 7 times per year. From Atlanta it is actually closer & less expensive to Cancun/Riviera Maya than driving to the Florida Panhandle.  Cancun/Riviera Maya is so beautiful and rich with nature. Try it….you too will fall in love with this amazing, beautiful and safe destination.

Until next time….feliz viaje!

 

Pepe

 

Hola Friends….

My name is Pepe del Verde, and YES, I am a travel “junky”. “Have suitcase & passport, will travel” has long been my motto. I especially love warm weather & beach destinations, though I have had the good fortune to travel the globe.

I work in a “full service” travel agency (unlike those do-it-yourself online “oogle google” companies). Most agencies offer anything and everything for sale. Many years ago business consultants warned agents to pare their offerings to one or two specialties— and do them well. This was the best advice that  I ever received for my business. I now specialize in destination weddings & honeymoons, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

Those “consultants” have also been “beating the drum” about social media and BLOGs. Getting involved with the social media was relatively simple. The idea of a BLOG was a bit daunting. What could I write about that anyone would find interesting? Those “experts” advised to write about what you know.

Like any business, mine is full of interesting stories from clients– especially brides. In future editions (blogposts? not sure of the lingo yet) I want to share some of my client stories. Some will make you smile, others might bring a tear to your eye, and others will make you say “WHAT?” Hopefully all of them interesting & fun.

Until next time.. feliz viaje (happy travel)

Pepe

PS– You can follow me on TWITTER:  #PepedelVerde and Pinterest: Expert Honeymoons

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