Taking off Travel blog

The Caribbean Sea in Cancun, Mexico, is more of a lion than a pussycat, at least at the edge of the hotel where I stayed. This can be something of a shock to those used to the placid waters where the same sea laps against the shores of Caribbean islands. In contrast, this water releases a constant roar and pounds against the large, flat rocks at the shoreline. During my four day visit, there was no possibility of swimming, though I did dip my toes in the water just because it was there before returning to the safety of the spacious pool at the Cancun Hilton.

Cancun Hilton View

Tourism Experts

Cancun impressed me from the moment I landed. Many travel experiences feature bleary eyed voyagers whose faces fall at the prospect of another long queue (can anyone say Miami International?) but this was different. I’d filled out my forms on the plane and as I entered the bright, well-signposted airport, I was directed to a bank of security desks where the people on duty quickly scanned the form and let me pass. The whole process took less than 10 minutes from la nding to luggage collection, and passing through customs was equally smooth.

Once into the main airport, there were people everywhere directing travelers to the best mode of transport. It took only another five minutes to buy my shuttle ticket and get a seat on a bus for the hotel zone. I’ve never seen an operation quite as slick, and unlike many airports where you can look for officials in vain, there were help desks all around. Read more »

One of the things that almost all travel agents try to sell you with your ticket is travel insurance, and that hasn’t changed now that many airline tickets are sold online. But do you really need travel insurance or is it just a scam to put more money in agents’ pockets.

Travel insurance is useful for active vacationers.

One of the reasons why travel agents often recommend travel insurance is because they earn a nice commission from every policy they sell, but does that mean that the whole idea is worthless? Not at all. As with most things, it’s about getting the right kind of cover at the right time. This is one time when it pays to read the fine print and see what is covered and what is not. And before you do that, there’s some other fine print you should read, on your household insurance policy. Read more »

By the time you read this, I will be on my way to Cancun. No, I won’t be sunning myself on the beaches, though I do plan to make use of the hotel pool. Most of the time I will be working, and it’s so long since I’ve taken a business trip that I created a to do list, which I’ll share with you now.

1. Write a list of things to do and pack

I’m a firm believer in writing lists and although I keep most things online, that hasn’t stopped me from making long lists of the things I have to do. It’s even more important when taking an unusual trip, as it’s so easy to forget something essential. At the start of last week, I decided to get my act together and start collecting the information I would need so I could check it off throughout the week.

Cancun, Mexico

2. Print out your travel confirmation

Most tickets are e-tickets but you will need a reference number to get your boarding pass. In my case, the travel was booked by an office thousands of miles away, so it’s even more important for me to check that it’s all ok. Sometimes airlines have requirements you must meet before you get to the airport; this is a good reminder to check on those. Read more »

Using offsite airport parking is one way to make sure that your car is safe while you travel. Using a secure parking lot means that your car is looked after, even if you are thousands of miles away. But not all offsite airport parking lots are a like. Here are some things to consider before you make your choice.

Airport Parking Safety

Choosing An Offsite Airport Parking Lot

Choose an offsite airport parking lot that is close to the terminal, so you won’t have to take a long walk in the middle of the night or early morning. This is a good way to ensure your personal safety when you travel. Read more »

 When planning a business trip, it’s not just a matter of booking accommodation and offsite airport parking. You also need to think about what you’re going to do when you get to your destination. Every country has different customs, so what works well in one might be totally out of the question in another. To do the business, you will need to think about the ABCs. Here they are:

Do you know the ABCs of international business etiquette?

Appearance

This is one of the most important. Appearance includes items such as your clothing, body language and gestures. For example, it’s important to know whether your new business colleagues will expect you to dress conservatively, formally or at the height of fashion. If you’re in Italy, for example, wearing unfashionable clothes may affect the way you are perceived. Western women doing business in the United Arab Emirates may need to dress more modestly than if they were at home. Watch out for gestures - it is easy to cause offence if you use the wrong ones. Read more »