Six Sisters Inc.: Meatie

Cancun Mexico

After traveling to Mexico 7 times from the early 90’s to late 2008 I think it’s safe to say I’m no stranger to Cancun Mexico. With its white pristine beaches and booming nightlife it’s hard not to consider Cancun one of my top vacation spots.

Cancun is the ultimate vacation and resort destination. Whether you’re idea of a great time is parasailing over turquoise waters, visiting The Mayan Ruins of Chichen Itza or snorkeling at Tulum and Xel-ha you’re guaranteed the perfect vacation.

I’ve enjoyed staying within the hotel zone on Quintana Roo. There’s an array of hotels to choose from. Starting with one of my personal favorites The Grand Melia Cancun Hotel and Resort.

If you’re looking for pure luxury this is it. The Gran Melia Cancun Hotel and Resort is a 5 Star, AAA – 4 diamond beachfront resort. From the time I arrived I received top notch service. After receiving a room that I was not pleased with I was upgraded to one of the best rooms in the hotel complete with a Jacuzzi on the balcony, a complimentary bottle of champagne and a voucher for a night’s free dinner. This was the start of a great vacation. In the mornings I would get up and head straight for the beach. I always had the same spot. That doesn’t usually happen so I’ll just say it was luck. The waters couldn’t get any better. The drinks were amazing and again I have to stress the service here was amazing!

After relaxing on the beach for a few hours I was ready to get the night started. Wow what a night life Cancun has! Once you’re on the R-2 Bus (renting a car takes the fun out of everything) that’s when the fun begins. You can hear the music and laughter before you reach your destination. Slices is an outdoor bar and lounge where you can have a drink, people watch and get prepared for your night to begin. Coco Bongo is one of the biggest high lights in Cancun. There isn’t one time that I’ve vacationed here and Coco Bongo was not on my “To do List”. I mean where else can you pay 600 pesos ($60 USD) and drink all night with live entertainment. And when I say live I mean live. There’s the Michael Jackson concert, The Mask performance, Cirque du Soleil and the newly added Beyonce Experience. I don’t know where they get the performers from but they are on point. Yes all of this is going on inside a club. I mean it does hold 3000 people.

If Coco Bongo is not for you right next door is The City, Dady Rock, Dady O’s, Katz Reggae Club, Hard Rock Café, Up & Down and Bulldog Café. I kind of blacked out the last time I was in Bull dogs. Rounds and Rounds of Tequila will do that to you. And just a short ride down is La Boom but before you get there you have to pass Fat Tuesday’s and believe me you don’t want to pass Fat Tuesday’s. If money is an issue for you, don’t worry about it. There are so many party promoters on the streets selling tickets at discounted prices you’re sure to get into any club on the strip. Even if you don’t (which you will) you always have the option of becoming a club hopper. For ($60 USD) a party bus will pick you up from you’re hotel and make numerous stops to different clubs. You get to party for 1 hour before you hear the sound of a whistle. That’s your driver telling you it’s time to hop to the next club. Definitely a favorite of mine. But pay attention to that whistle because you will get left behind.

Although I don’t consider Senior Frog’s a club it can sure fit into the category. Not only will you get great food and drinks here you get to stand in your chair and dance like a chicken. Yes they do the chicken dance. Cancun hardly sleeps so if you’re undecided on if you want to dance like a chicken you can always head down to Carlos and Charley’s. Most restaurants in Cancun are a great experience but if you’re looking to relax, have a glass of wine and a nice filling meal you might want to consider the likes of Casa Rolandi, The Crab House, La Destileria, and Lorenzillo’s also a personal favorite of mine.

I know what you’re thinking. All Meatie did was eat drink and party. Well you’re right, somewhat. Cancun has some amazing shopping malls. Of course we can’t forget about that. I’ve done my share of shopping in Cancun and the prices are great. There’s Kukulkan Plaza. This mall has over 250 shops and boutiques including Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Six specialty restaurants, bars and cafes, 2 theaters and bowling alley with a food court on the top floor. Looking for more familiar names try Plaza Caracol. They carry everything from D&G, Moschino and Versace to Costume National and Max Mara. Plaza La Isla has to be one of my very favorite places to shop. It’s an outside Mall with everything! I really can’t get enough of Cancun. I would say the best time to visit Cancun is in August. It’s a very relaxed time of the year yet it doesn’t affect the nightlife. Temperatures in August range at 80 degrees.

I can’t remember ever visiting Cancun and covering everything that I set out to do. I’ve tried. Believe me I have but nonetheless never succeeded. With that said here are my top choices for Hotel Accommodations:

The Grand Melia Cancun Hotel and Resort

Hilton Cancun Golf & Spa Resort

Grand Oasis Cancun

Omni Cancun Hotel & Villas

Hyatt Regency Cancun

For your very own Cancun experience go to www.explorecancun.com

For great deals and steals visit:

Tips:

1. Exchange USD into pesos

2. DO NOT exchange money at the airport! You can get a much better price in Cancun or at your hotel.

3. If possible book travel vouchers through your travel agent or your own booking source. They save time and MONEY!

4. Don’t drink water out of the faucet. Instead, purchase bottle water that you can keep in your room and carry with your throughout the day.

5. Be kind and tip. The people of

Mexico

are very accommodating and will make your stay worthwhile.

6. Although it is safe to travel to Mexico always stay within the hotel zone unless you are on a guided tour.

Enjoy!

Orlando Florida

If you think Orlando Florida is just for kids, think again. Sure it’s known for being the ultimate family vacation spot but there is much to do for those who choose to travel alone or with their significant other. I actually get really excited when I plan trips to Orlando. The first thing that comes to mind is Walt Disney World, Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. This is the one place where age does not matter. You can be as young as you choose to be and no one will pass judgment. I usually choose to be 15 again.

The best part of booking my Orlando vacation is choosing where I will lay my head. With all the hotel choices I have, there’s only one place I want to stay. Fantasy World Club Villas. Each villa has 2 bedrooms, tile floors and screen doors that open to your own private patio. Equipped with a full kitchen, dining room, 2 bathrooms, 2 televisions washers and dryers. Property amenities include 3 pools, tennis and basketball courts, a spa tub and a bar. For the kiddies there’s a playground and game room with supervised activities. This is home away from home minus the 9-5 that I don’t have to see for at least 8 days. J The first day of my arrival I get checked in which is extremely fast without the hassle of time share offers. Once I’m checked in I’m off to the supermarket. There’s a Wal-Mart not too far from the Villas. I try not to overdo it but if you’re staying for 8 days or more (which I suggest if you want to cover most of the parks) you should definitely stock up on breakfast foods and water. Fantasy World Club Villas is in such a great location you’ll surely want to go out for dinner more often than not.

The next morning I’m up about 8 because you really need to get there early. The lines can get straight crazy and with temperatures ranging 92 degrees you will be very uncomfortable before you even get through the gates. The good thing about my location is that it’s just a short drive from all the theme parks. I don’t usually purchase tickets at the gate. I’ve always found that you can get tickets for much less from one of the ticket booths in the area. My favorite spot is Billy Boy’s discount tickets. These guys are great! I initially ordered tickets for Universal City Walk online. Once I arrived at Billy Boy’s I purchased my tickets for the parks and was given two free passes for Universal City Walk. So now I’m like “hold up” these tickets are free? I told the salesperson that I had already ordered online and asked what I should do with my tickets. The salesperson told me not to worry. He refunded me the money for those tickets and gave me free drink passes for the night and a discount on 2 day passes for 2 parks. This was great being that you can pay up to $80 for adult tickets at the gate. I was in heaven. Right there I was like I’m not getting tickets from anywhere else and I’m damn sure never buying at the gate again. I went to Billy Boy’s discount tickets every morning.

So now I’m on my way to Universal Islands of Adventure. I swear I get so excited on the drive to the park. I always admire how beautiful and well kept all the grass and trees are. This goes on for miles and miles and all I can think is oh how I wish my last name was Disney. Once you’ve reached the park you’re directed into parking spaces by character. I usually get lucky and end up in Donald 60. All the way at the end of the parking lot while the sun is beating down on the top of my head. So now I have to drag myself fast enough to meet the trolley that takes you to the park before it pulls off. At the gate you slip you’re ticket through the machine and you’re finger print is taken before entering the park. Right there you know security is tight so if you think your running out of there with anything they will catch your ass. Now I’m in the park and I’m heading straight to my favorite ride. The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman. This is a 3D adventure with live special effects including flames, water and motion based simulator vehicles that move throughout the building. You actually feel like your right in the middle of it all. In my opinion this is the best ride in Universal Islands of Adventure.

I’m not big on roller coasters so I just like to watch other people risk their lives and ride The Incredible Hulk Coaster or Dueling Dragons. The cool thing about Dueling Dragons is that there are two sides to this coaster and you have to choose which side you’re on. Fire or Ice. It’s a battle while you’re flying through the air. It’s pretty hot in the parks with little chance of shade. That’s when I hit Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge – Rat Barges. This is a white-water rapid ride. You get extremely wet on this ride so if you’re hair is done it’s a wrap literally, but it’s worth it. Other great water rides include Dudley Do-Rights Ripsaw Falls (steep drop) and Jurassic Park River Adventure a must see with great special effects and also a pretty steep drop. I really wanted to ride Pteranodon Flyers but was told it was just for kids. How I didn’t know this after visiting Orlando 4 times is beyond me. This is a high flying ride that gives you great views of the park.

I have to admit I enjoyed some of the kid’s rides just as much as the rides for all ages. Especially The Cat in the Hat, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and Caro-Suess-el.

Marvel Super Hero Island is where you can see all the Super Hero’s and ride Storm Force Accelatron. Prepare for a lot of whirling and swirling. I accidentally wore a New York Yankees fitted baseball cap to Marvel Super Hero Island and was told that Spider Man didn’t like the Yankees. Then my sister reminded me that Peter Parker was from New York. Wish I would have remembered that. Oh yeah you have to experience Poseidon’s Fury. This is a guided tour through the dig site of an ancient temple. You’ll have to dodge huge fire balls, lasers and explosions of water. It’s great. I think the most exciting new Attraction in Universal Islands of Adventure is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Opening Spring 2010. You’ll pass through Hogwarts Castle and explore the familiar passageways and classrooms that you’ve watched in the movies. I’m very excited about this and yes I will get to enjoy this in July on my next trip to Orlando. There’s just so much to do in Orlando and I haven’t even covered everything L so stay tuned for Part 2 of my Orlando Florida Experience where I’ll give you all the great steals and deals, nightly entertainment and more of the best them parks in Florida.

Ciao!