I have a friend who made a trip to Costa Rica a few years ago, and stayed at a beautiful resort, and did rainforest tours, and even got to fly through the trees on one of those zip lines. Now, that’s how to see Central or South America in style! We’ve only seen bits of Mexico on cruises, and I’d love to go down south and stay for a while, and see more than just a day’s worth of Aztec ruins and craft stalls on the beach. This site offering a glimpse of luxury Latin America sounds fabulous…you can’t miss with hotel reviews from people who have actually stayed in the hotels, or tour reviews from those who have enjoyed the tour previously!

Luxury Latin America Launches as New Upscale Tourism Site

New luxury travel site reviews the best hotels and upscale tours in Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Miami Beach, FL (PRWeb) April 6, 2007 — Luxury Latin America (Luxury Latin America launches this week as the premier web site for upscale travelers planning a trip to South America, Central America, or Mexico. It provides filtered, authoritative recommendations on the top hotels in this dynamic region and highlights the best luxury travel opportunities.

Candid and detailed hotel reviews cover only the most luxurious hotels and resorts in Latin America, from Mexico through Central and South America. All hotel reviews are written by seasoned travel writers and guidebook authors who have inspected the top hotels in Latin America in person. Travel articles are based on deluxe trips in the region that writers have experienced first-hand. All are tours or guided day trips to be savored by the discerning traveler, journeys that are a clear step above the standard tourist fare.

“Even in well-developed resort areas in Mexico and Costa Rica, “deluxe” and “5-star” designations are so widespread that they have become meaningless,” says Timothy Scott, Luxury Latin America’s editor. “Our aim is to filter out the also-rans and save wealthy travelers time by pointing them to only the best hotels and tours in the Americas.”

Luxury Latin America is not a booking service and has no stake in which hotels or travel adventures its readers choose. The initial launch includes reviews of top hotels in Argentina, Belize, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay. Remaining destinations will be added in the coming months.

See more about this upscale travel portal at www.LuxuryLatinAmerica.com.

With the success of the show Grey’s Anatomy, I wonder if Washington state is seeing a little real estate boom? Who wouldn’t want a little trailer in the woods like McDreamy, or a cool house like Meredith Grey? And the scenery when the doctors went on that fishing trip - wow! The mountains were beautiful - I wonder if the show is filmed on location, or specifically, where that fishing expedition was filmed? That’s the kind of camping I could get behind - no bugs, no heat, no humidity.

I’m not sure about Seattle, but Marysville real estate is booming! Whether you want a newer home, an older home, or brand new construction of a home or condo, you’ll find it in Marysville. This realtor also sells in Everett, Lynnwood, Tulalip, Smokey Point, Arlington, Stanwood, Lake Stevens and Snohomish - all beautiful areas nestled in the foothills of the mountains. While I can’t promise a McDreamy, McVet, or McSteamy siting, I can promise beautiful views, tons of outdoor activities, and a break from the heat. If we see more of the great outdoors on Grey’s Anatomy, we might just find people flocking to buy Marysville WA Real Estate!

I love to travel, and we’ve stayed in a variety of different accommodations in our trips hither and yon. From a rustic cabin in the mountains of North Carolina, to a fully stocked suite outside of Disney, to a vacation rental on the Jersey shore. I prefer staying in something that has a bedroom and a kitchen - especially with a family of 5, and we’re lucky that there are so many Florida vacation rentals to choose from! With our state being so geared to tourism, you have your pick of vacation spots and accommodations. We’ve stayed in a beautiful beach house on Anna Maria and a modern condo with a pool outside Orlando. Having your own private retreat is great when you’re traveling with friends of family - you get a lot more room than a typical hotel room offers you, a ton of privacy, and the convenience of your own kitchen. (Not that I want to cook every night, but with kids, a fridge is a must while traveling)

Just reading the descriptions of some of the vacation homes available is enough to make me want to plan my next trip - check out this beach house rental in Destin - white sand beaches, here I come!

We went to a theme park in Orlando yesterday, and aside from buying food and drinks there, we didn’t get any souvenirs. I think my kids have finally realized that as often as we go to the theme parks, we don’t need a t-shirt or a toy every time we go. And my husband and I have realized that those toys only end up in the garage sale pile within a year, so why buy them?

If you can’t live without theme park souvenirs, you can at least get them cheaper. When I went to Orlando for my birthday last year, we stopped at Wal-Mart after we left our hotel. My friends were able to buy Disney t-shirts to take home to their kids for a fraction of what they’d cost at the parks!

I always wanted to sign up to be an exchange student, but I realized my 2 years of French in high school wouldn’t be much help if I were to live in France for a few months. A few years ago, my niece went on one of those educational tours of Europe, and that sounds like a pretty neat option for kids who may not be completely fluent in a language. I’ve seen lots of tour groups just like that in Orlando in fact, touring Disney and Epcot. My daughter may be going on a similar trip when she’s in middle school - when we attended an open house for one of the schools, they mentioned an 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. Traveling in a big group means the prices are lower, and the tours pack a lot of information and sight seeing into a short time. I’m a little jealous that I’m officially “too old” to do something like this. Hmm…maybe I can sign up to be a chaperone?

I had the chance to stop in Savannah, GA a few years ago, and I was completely taken with the area. I was with my mom and the kids, coming back from a trip to New Jersey. We got a nice hotel in the Richmond Hill area, and then headed into town for dinner at the mall, and then further downtown for a drive around old Savannah. I’d love to go back and be able to stay in a bed and breakfast and do a ghost tour! (I was hooked after watching Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil)

While we were there, I grabbed a real estate booklet listing homes for sale in the area, and spent hours drooling over the grand old Victorians and newer brick homes in the suburbs. Now you can check out Savannah GA Real Estate online. View every home in the MLS over 4,000 currently for sale! There’s also a tie in to Google Maps, which makes it a lot easier to determine exactly where a home is located. Can’t find your dream home just yet? Put in your criteria and save it, and when new listings matching what you want are added to the system, you’ll be altered by email. You can also be emailed when something matching your criteria has a price reduction.

No matter if you want to be downtown, in the town, or in the suburbs, or on the coast, you’re bound to find something you like in the Savannah Real Estate Marketplace!

I love to travel, and I love to have a home away from home when I get away. I don’t like hotel stays for extended periods of time, and I think renting a house, a condo, or a townhome is the best bet for a family of 5 like mine. That’s why these Rocky Point house rentals caught my eye! We’ve never been to the Pacific side of Mexico, but it’s easy to get to from Arizona, and it’s an area that caters to tourists. A fully equipped kitchen means you’ll save money eating out, and I don’t know about you, but eating every meal out loses it’s charm by about the third day of vacation! Rocky Point would be a great little getaway with or without the kids in fact…there are tons of things to see and do, and plenty of water sports to keep us busy and get us tanned by the end of vacation.

I got an education today. I’ve been planning our trip to Canada and double checked to make sure we’d be ok with taking a rental car from Detroit into Canada - we are, but did you know that in certain countries, the driving laws are SO drastically different that you should consider buying additional auto insurance before you go? It’s true! One such country is Mexico - now, having been there many times on cruises, and having even walked into the country through El Paso, I never really gave driving there a second thought. Turns out that an accident in Mexico is technically considered a felony, and you’re responsible for paying for any damage you’ve done. The authorities can even hold you until you pay up! Your US auto insurance is NOT recognized at all. Wouldn’t that put a damper on your vacation?

You don’t need to worry though - you can buy Mexican auto insurance specifically for your trip - this company caters to tourists who will be driving in Mexico. And they’ve been in business since 1979. Getting a quote for your Mexican car insurance is as easy as 1-2-3 - just put in your vehicle specs online, as well as the dates you’ll be visiting Mexico, and you get get an online quote, pay, and print out your insurance card.

Another product offered is emergency medical assistance through Assist America. I know all too well that tragedy can strike on vacation. Jim and I were snorkling on a cruise in Mexico and one of the men in our group had a heart attack, and had to be evacuated to a local hospital. My sister’s mother-in-law died in a cruise stop in Panama City. It’s important to have a backup plan to get help when you’re away from home!

Living on the gulf coast of Florida, we have a great time enjoying the water and sun as often as possible. One thing I’ve never done is a fishing charter - but I’ve known several people that are captains or married to one! I grew up in a small town on the water, and fishing charters were available at the docks, giving tourists a chance to get out on the water and fish like a pro.

My husband loves fishing, but with his job and our schedule, doesn’t get a chance to do it as often as possible. We don’t have a boat, either! It’s definitely more of a vacation activity for him. We’re only a day away from this Louisiana Charter Fishing company, so it’s definitely an option for the next time we visit N’awlins. The nice thing about fishing down here in the southern states is that you can do it year round. And I’m not talking about sea bass or other small fish - you can go for tuna, blue marlins, or snapper. The waters of the Mississippi flowing into the gulf make for a unique environment for fishing - and when you go out on a charter boat, you’ll get the equipment provided, as well as plenty of free advice from the pros on getting a big catch!

My mother went to Chicago this weekend and came home with gifts for everyone. She got my son a neat hockey puck to display, that has the original six NHL teams listed on it. (Jim noted that we’ll be going to three of the original six cities this June - Detroit, Toronto, and Montreal.) My girls got gifts from the Hershey’s store - white and dark chocolate Kit-Kats, charm bracelets, and necklaces. The kids also got paper hats from the Hershey’s store that say ‘Factory Worker’ which they wore all through dinner!

One of the things my husband looked into for our anniversary was a visit to an all inclusive resort. The idea of paying once price and having all of your food and drinks and entertainment included seems like a good idea to me! This all inclusive resort in Mexico is just my speed too. Warm sandy beaches, a beautiful resort…and no children! The prices right now being offered are up to 50% off regular rates, so it’s a great time to book a vacation. Save me a margarita, and how soon can I book myself for one of those on the beach massages?

We’ve done a great deal of searching for airfare to Europe over the past few months…and I have one thought.

I wish I already lived overseas so I could take advantage of all of the great deals from London to other hotspots. Living in the US, I can fly to other cities and states cheaply, but it’s not the same as getting on a 2 hour flight and ending up in a completely different country! And with the British pound being what it is right now, people in the UK aren’t just getting deals on airfare in Europe - they’re making out like bandits coming to the USA as well. Just take a look at these New York weekend breaks. 455 pounds for airfare and 3 nights of hotel accomodations in NYC. I had to pull out my currency converter and find out how much that was in USD - and it’s less than $900. I can’t find any deals going to the UK for that kind of money…believe me, I’ve looked!

As often as we go to Orlando, we usually stay in a hotel or condo. I’m not sure why we haven’t ever taken advantage of one of the vacation homes near Disney World - we’ve had friends who have stayed in one and absolutely loved it. With 52 theme parks, beaches 40 minutes away, and tons of places to stay, you can see why Orlando is one of my favorite destinations. The vacation homes you can choose from are amazing too - pools, hot tubs, bedrooms galore - and if you’ve got a big group or family, they’re cheaper than a hotel room!

I’m just counting the days til we go next month for our next weekend away!

I’m lucky enough to live only an hour away from all of the theme park action in Orlando. We try to go there as often as possible, but it can get pricy. We’ve got annual season passes for Disney, which is a big savings when you go as often as we do, but that doesn’t cover all of the non-Disney fun. Luckily, there are sites that sell tickets to all of the attractions in Orlando - not just Disney tickets! If you’re looking for a more grown up theme park, Islands of Adventure has a ton of roller coasters. Want to chill out? How about one of the dinner shows in Orlando like Medieval Times or Arabian Nights? You can get tickets to all of these places at a discount when you buy them online!

We’re a good 3 1/2 months away from our trip to Canada, but I’m already excited. I keep hearing about the fabulous shopping in Toronto - I’m so glad we’ll be able to stay there for a few nights. Because I’m such a planner, I’ve already scoped out hotels online. One name I keep seeing over and over again is Delta Hotels - we don’t have the chain in the U.S., but they’ve got locations all over Canada. I think the family would absolutely love the Delta Chelsea in Toronto. Jim and I would love the location, because it’s downtown, and close to everything, The kids would love the indorr waterslide - how cool is THAT?? The hotel also features a rooftop pool offering amazing city views of Toronto. The hotel also has family suites, big screen TV’s, and high speed internet. Gosh, sign me up!

I haven’t been to New York since I was a teenager. Doing NYC with your mom isn’t exactly the same as doing it as an adult, so now that I’m all grown up, I’d like to go back sometime with my husband for an adult weekend in the city. The shopping alone is worth the price of an airline ticket and hotel for a long weekend! So why not vsit New York? Why not indeed! Barry’s blog entry about a recent New York weekend break reminded me of all the things I haven’t seen in years…and a few things I never got to see. I’ve been to the top of the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center (in 1993, shortly before it was bombed), but I’ve never been to the Statue of Liberty. And we never got to Central Park!

If I went for a weekend, exactly how much shopping do you think my husband would let me get away with??

Tonight on one of the message boards I frequent, talk turned to vacationing in North Carolina, and Blue Ridge real estate. What I wouldn’t give to have a little cabin nestled in the mountains…private enough to get away from it all (with high speed internet of course) but close enough to civilization to enjoy plenty of skiing, snow, and winter sports.

What’s your vacation dream home like? Where would it be?

Have you ever used Priceline? I’ve used it to book hotel rooms locally before, in Tampa, when we were going to be attending concerts downtown. Both times, I was able to get the Tampa Hyatt - and once we got it for $50. And the Hyatt is a NICE hotel. I’m going to attempt to use it for hotel rooms on vacation too, but I definitely plan to use it for a rental car…err…minivan. I’ve done that before and I was very impressed. Whereas with a hotel, you don’t know how clean the room will be, or exactly where it’s located, you know what you’re getting into with using Priceline for a car rental. You get to specify the location for pickup, and what type of vehicle you want. We used it going into Philadelphia and saved a ton. I researched the rates before hand, and found out what a car rental was going for, and then bid about 60% of that price, and it was accepted. With needing to rent a minivan on vacation, plus hotels, and food, and airfare, I’m all about saving cash and using Priceline. I just hope the minivan rental comes with one of those van rack or roof rack things…we might have a lot of luggage! At the very least, we’ll want to put a kid up on the roof if they annoy us

I was looking at airfare this week for our summer vacation, and realized how lucky I am to live in Florida. Because we’re such a touristy place, I can usually find GREAT deals on airfare out of the state. Everyone wants to come here, especially for Orlando vacations. And since I’m near the airports in Tampa and Orlando, I can search both for the best deal. As it is, we found airfare to Detroit for $158 per person - unreal! I booked our tickets as soon as I saw that deal. Thanks, Northwest Airlines!

We’re planning a summer vacation right now, and it looks like we’ll be heading to Canada. Because we live in Florida, we’re not seeking sun, fun, theme parks, and beaches. A lot of people do come to Florida in the summer…that’s probably one reason we’re looking forward to escaping for a week! If you’re looking for something a little nicer than a standard hotel room, Florida vacation rentals are worth checking out. For about the price of a hotel room per night, you can have a beautiful vacation home or condo with a full kitchen and private pool. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got 3 kids, and eating out on vacation EVERY night not only gets to be tiring, but it’s pricy too. It’s nice to have a kitchen where you can keep things for lunches, breakfast, and simple meals. (Note to my husband: that doesn’t imply I want to cook every night on vacation!)

You’ll find Florida vacation rentals all over the state, no matter where you want to go, and no matter what you want to see. From the theme parks, to the Space coast, to the gulf coast…the Sunshine State has a ton to offer vacation goers!