Aliya Mawani, spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said officials in Mexico are aware of the beating and are assisting the woman along with her family.

“Our thoughts are with the badly injured Canadian and her family during this difficult time,” said Mawani in a press release earlier today.

The woman, reported to be in her 20s, was found by another traveler lying in a pool of blood in an elevator at the Riu Emerald Bay resort.

According to Noroeste.com a Mexican news site, another tourist was trying to enter the resort elevator where the woman was found. Investigators say she may have been assaulted in her hotel room, dragged down the hall and abandoned by the elevator.

This incident adds to the reported 112 Canadian incidents in Mexico over the past five years which has caused concerns for local travelers.

Josefine Oshunrinde, travel consultant at Humber’s Travel Centre told the dailyplanet.com that situations like this can be caused by things other than chance.

“We don’t know if the traveler had any previous altercations,” said Oshunrinde.

26 year old project management student David Achimugu said he would not be visiting Mexico because of the recent reports.

“It’s been consistently violent there, which means it’s not safe,” said Achimugu.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada has advised Canadians to ‘exercise a high degree of caution due to deteriorating security situations in many parts of the country’.

Oshunrinde gave some tips to stay safe when traveling to potentially dangerous areas.

“Travel in a group, try not to stray, and try not to get in other people’s business. Sometimes things happen simply because people get into someone else’ business,” said Oshunrinde.

In the event that assistance is needed while vacationing in Mexico, Canadian government contacts are available in popular resort areas such as Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlan.

Canadians are expressing concerns, but the tourism industry in the country is still thriving.

In 2010, approximately 1.6 million Canadians visited Mexico.

(Source)

In the past week I’ve spent three days in Chicago presenting at the American Medical Association’s international conference on physicians’ health and three days in northern B.C. fly-fishing for steelhead. It was a challenge trying to stick to the training and weight-loss goals (to lose 10 pounds in 10 weeks) that I’ve set for myself. Because I know many of you have the same challenges, I thought it might be helpful to share the strategies that still allowed me to lose one pound during this week.

First, I did my best to adhere to the timing and meal size of the eating plan detailed last week. I brought a box of my favourite Elevate Me protein bars to use as a substitute meal when I couldn’t get to a restaurant. I never ordered dessert, and most of the time I stuck to green salads with lemon juice as my side dish. I also drank a lot of water to maintain my hydration.

Because I couldn’t keep up my split training routine, I just made sure I did a short, high-intensity workout every day. I did this in the hotel fitness facility in Chicago, and in my hotel room in Smithers on my fishing trip. My secret weapon exercise in both locations is something I’ve been incorporating into all of my workouts lately. Following are three variations:

Floor sprawl

More and more I’ve been using this full body exercise to keep up the intensity in my own program…..read the story here!

I’m also thrilled about the prices. I’m paying $60 for two, including breakfast, at the Hotel Julamis, a boutique inn with a garden and pool in Merida’s historical center. For a short stay in the beach town of Puerto Morleos, I found a studio apartment for $80, with free bikes thrown in.

I’ve traveled in Mexico for years, and I always look forward to going back. Mexico is cheaper than Hawaii and, to me, more interesting than Costa Rica. But with all the reports of drug-related violence and killings, people ask, “Is it safe to go Mexico?”

I put the question to Mexican Tourism Secretary Gloria Guevara, who was in Seattle recently for meetings with airline executives and travel agents.

Her answer: “Get a map.”

Misconceptions of Mexico

Surprisingly, Guevara didn’t sugarcoat the impact the violence among warring drug cartels has had on how people feel about travel to Mexico. How could she when I brought along a news clipping about a man’s torso and arm found on a street near a beachfront hotel in Acapulco? Mexicans are as upset about what’s happening in their country as anyone.

But Guevara points out that Mexico is a big country, with 2,500 municipalities.

“All of the problems you hear about have occurred in just 80 of these places, less than 5 percent,” nearly all outside the places most travelers go.

“Asking if Mexico is safe,” she says, ” is a little like asking if something happens in Atlanta, is it safe to go to Seattle.”

Fair enough. So what is the biggest misconception people here have?

“When they think of Mexico, they don’t think about specific places,” Guevara says. “They just say ‘Mexico.’ ”

It’s true that drug-related violence has left thousands of Mexicans dead in the border towns of Ciudad Juárez and Nuevo Laredo. The violence lately has begun to spread, and the country remains under a U.S. State Department travel warning (see www.travel.state.gov).

It’s also true that most American tourists go to a handful of destinations such as Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and the Mayan Riviera, all areas as safe as they look.

Tourism is hugely important, generating 22 million international visitors annually, 2.5 million jobs in 2010, and $11.8 billion in revenue, according to Mexican government figures. It’s Guevara’s job to promote travel. But I get her point.

I’ve never felt unsafe in Mexico. Not taking the subway in Mexico City. Not riding a long-distance bus to Mazatlan in the state of Sinaloa, home to one of the most powerful drug cartels. Not walking the streets of Guadalajara, Sayulita, Oaxaca or Guanajuato.

Most people who go to Mexico feel this way, Guevara said. Ninety-nine percent of travelers who responded to a recent government tourism survey said they had a good experience and would go back again, she said.

“The fact of the matter is that most of central and southern Mexico sees less violence than many U.S. cities,” writes Lonely Planet guidebook author Robert Reid.

The U.S. travel warning advises which areas to avoid. None include Reid’s top destinations — Mexico City, Merida, Todos Santos, San Miguel de Allende, Huatulco, Playa del Carmen, Guanajuato and Puebla. I’d add Oaxaca for food and art and Guadalajara for shopping.

Guevara says that the best way to judge what it’s like in Mexico is to ask someone who’s been recently.

If that’s you, send me an email describing your experience, or see this column online at www.seattletimes.com/travel and leave a comment. I’ll share responses in a future column.

Travel Wise runs Sundays in print and online at www.seattletimes.com/travel. Questions welcome. Contact Carol Pucci at cpucci@seattletimes.com.

Twitter: @carolpucci

In general I begin with saying that you as tourist will garner more positive attention when you bring your kids with you than if you were only two adults traveling alone. Mexicans love kids and you will get a great opportunity to interact with the natives when you bring your family with you.

Planning

Documentation, Accommodation, Schooling

We have written an extensive packing and documents section in our website; however I will emphasize that while it does cost money to obtain, a passport is the best and easiest form of identification once you and your family are here. If the children are NOT your birth kids, ensure you have a letter from the missing parent notarized before you leave.

Hotels

If you are staying at a hotel ask before you leave, ask if they have high chairs, playpens, cribs etc and plan accordingly. For those of you who are planning to “hotel it”, consider accommodation other than an all inclusive resort. Of course they are handy, but your family will probably not experience other restaurants and your resort and eating schedule seduces you to stay put. Hey what are you coming to Mexico for anyway…..A high class hotel?

Many resort hotels have fridges. The high-end ones that also sell timeshares often even have full kitchens in every guest suite. Renting a timeshare usually is not more expensive than a normal hotel, just be sure to check if there is a market nearby or having a kitchen will do you little good. If your room doesn’t have a kitchen or a fridge, there are plenty of cheap Styrofoam coolers you can purchase to store snack foods and beverages. We always bring an electric coffeepot for morning coffee and to heat up liquid for whatever emergency or experiment comes our way. Remember that two prong plugs are standard in Mexico so pack an adapter if your appliance needs a 3 prong outlet.

An advantage of staying in a large 4 + star hotel is that they often have a child minding service. It is expensive and our understanding is that the majority of the money is given to the hotel and not the worker. We have not used this option very often as we find that we go to sleep earlier in Mexico and that the 4 hour minimum was not worth the price. We were also concerned about the kids when on one occasion the woman spoke no English and our children were very small. We have altered our schedule and made our adult times in the mornings when the children are snoozing.

Not to worry though. Children are allowed in restaurants/bars. Many of our most fond and romantic memories are when we went to restaurants with our kids. When they were toddlers they would often sleep in their strollers – zonking out right after dinner. When they were older we would take them to Senior Frogs or someplace cool as a treat and dance and play well into the evening.

Schooling

If you are taking your children out of school for a week or two you will still need to discuss this with their schools. Often there are homework assignments or special projects given to the kids. My experience is that the homework gets forgotten until the last day and that the special assignments are generally a journal, again begun a day or two before we returned home.

If you are going on an extended trip, distance education may be the answer. Many school districts in Canada and the US have distance education and or internet schools. There are so many internet cafes in Mexico that the former option is entirely possible. My kids are still completing high school over the internet and will eventually receive the same degree as the kid living just down the block back home.

Medical

You should plan to visit your local doctor or health clinic before you go to ensure that any medical issue is addressed before you go. If you are flying with a baby or small child discuss ear aches caused by altitude as well as “while you are there issues.” Ensure you have considered medical insurance.

My whole family got the total package of shots just in case we decided to go a little further south. Our experience of the medical care in Mexico has been very favorable but for most the language barrier can be frustrating in times of an emergency.

Co Planning

Don’t leave your kids out of the loop when you are planning your journey. While you ultimately make the decisions, ask them their preferences for various things such as lodging, food, attractions. If your kids are happy, you’re happy. I have found that mine are happiest at a place where they have access to a pool. Once teenagers, they want to be near people their own age and a pool or ocean matters less.

Bring out an atlas, online or paper based, and discuss the area you are about to explore. As a family, chat about the weather, food, various side trips. Learn a little about the history of the place. Indulge in audio CDs or language tapes.

If they are old enough, take them to a Dollar Store or inexpensive supply store before you leave. Get them to help select pencils, pens and other school supplies that they can give as gifts to other children while they are there. $10 each goes a long way back home.

Via Plane

Babies and toddlers are a challenge on an aircraft so request a “bulkhead” while you are making your reservations. A bulkhead gives you more legroom and allows kids a little area to sit on the floor or play with their toys. Request a few more pillows so they can lie down and a blanket so they can hopefully sleep. Request a kids menu and take kids snacks in case you need it. For sure pack extra bottles and diapers.

Once they could walk not toddle, we gave them their own luggage. Not only did it instill responsibility for their own items, but when they were young it slowed them down considerably at the airport; a good thing. We ensured that they packed the required T shirts, shorts etc and they had choices in terms of toys and other items.

We purchased standard overnight size roller-type bags for each child (not Disney or cute overpriced character bags) and as they grew the luggage increased in size as well. Even when they outgrew the overnight luggage, the bags still had use as sleepover bags.

Teenagers like walkmans. Get one each. There is lots of down time at airports, immigration and stopovers. Pack something onboard that can keep them occupied.

By Car or RV

I have come to the unfortunate conclusion that scenery bores kids up until the age of 15. Then if you are lucky they take an interest outside their window. Ensure there are plenty of things to do to keep them occupied. If you don’t they will fight amongst themselves or with you or if there is only one, they will become agitated and moody.

There are numerous car games that can be played or songs to be sung but they too can get aggravating over the long haul. Unfortunately reading extensively often brings on motion sickness and board games get spilt everywhere when the brakes are applied. The truth of it is that you have to come up with some strategies for occupying them so they don’t drive you nuts.

Drive Very Early

Plan the evening before for an early get away. In Canada or the US we get up about an hour before sunrise and have a cup of coffee and a roll. In Mexico we won’t leave until we can see the road clearly. We wake the snoozing kids, still and Po’s, and strap them down while they lay or slouched over pillows. We play softer music as we drive and chat – usually for 4 or 5 hours – before the kids wake up and we stop for breakfast. This strategy allowed us a lot of adult time and ensured that those first 5 hours gave us lots of distance. If it is hot outside, it ensures that we are comfortable in the morning air.

Try to consider stopping soon afterwards. Sure the town might not be that interesting to you, but your kids just probably want to be near you and a body of water to swim in. Plan accordingly. You are not on a family holiday to be driving 24/7. You are there to explore together as a family.

If we drive further, we make sure that the kids are separated as much as possible physically and that they have their own “space” to call home. Their own toys or books and games are placed close to each of them to make it easier to access without stopping.

I am not a big TV advocate nor do I hate it. When we are traveling fast I ensure that we have a number of movie CD’s available for the kids, an accessible TV and CD player. It is worth approximately two precious hours of peace and adult time. We limit viewing to one movie a day, alternating the “chooser.”

No matter how much they moan or want to sleep, ensure they are belted in at all times. Even if you are in an RV and they need to go to the washroom, stop the vehicle. Be an example.

Bring snacks. Usually you get better nutrition if you preplan this. Picking up candy or chips at a gas station is a poor alternative.

Stopping for Meals

Try to plan your meal stops in interesting places. Allow the kids to walk around. Visit something. Take care of the dog. Wal-Mart parking lots can be interesting for kids if they can pick out something they need. Keep them occupied and tire them out.

Mexico

Food…..read more here

All-Inclusive Camping

Family Cruises

Single Island Resorts

Children’s Supplies and Needs

Best Times to Visit….read more from USA Today

Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal is a Great Travel Breakfast on the Go

On our recent trip to California with my husband and son we were scheduled to fly from West Palm Beach to Houston (landing in Houston just after lunch) and then from Houston to San Diego. The first leg of the trip all went according to plan. We left West Palm Beach early in the morning and since I know there’s a Starbucks in the West Palm Beach airport we all had the relatively new Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal with additional fresh sliced bananas on top for breakfast.  Since Starbucks is now ubiquitous you shouldn’t have too difficult of a time finding one but if you want to pack your own breakfast I like packing a thick slice of Manna Organics sprouted manna bread (made with no added oil, no flour, no yeast, no added sweeteners) along with a little Tupperware container of raw almond butter to spread on top and some fresh fruit.

Healthy Travel Snacks

I also packed light snacks for the airplane …carrots sticks, red bell pepper strips with hummus (keep container small or they will confiscate your hummus at security) and a delicious new raw snack I discovered at Whole Foods Market made by 2 Moms in the Raw.

One of the moms who created this product line has MS (multiple sclerosis) and she has taken a natural, vegan and raw foods approach to controlling her disease. On our trip I tried (and loved!) the 2 Moms in the Raw Blueberry Granola (Gluten Free) but I have since tried several other products from this line and none have disappointed.

I also love the fact that none of the products contain added oils or refined sugars, they are 100% vegan, raw, handmade, and organic.

Pack for Contingencies

All went according to plan until we got to Houston. We landed on time and had a 1 hour delay. We figured we would grab a quick and small bite in Houston and then eat a late bigger “proper” lunch in San Diego. Well that didn’t work out. It was still not exactly lunchtime when we arrived in Houston and since we couldn’t find anything decent to eat we snacked on the 2 Moms in the Raw Blueberry Granola Bar. Then we boarded the plane and took off. About an hour and a half into the flight the pilot announced one of the engines was failing so we had to turn around. WHAT?!?! This was disturbing on many levels. First of all it was a bit unsettling to think the engine would be failing.  It was also upsetting to think we had made 90 minutes of flight progress only to be told we would have to turn around and start all over again. Twenty minutes after the engine announcement the pilot announced the plane was too heavy and so we would need to make an emergency landing. It was going from bad to worse. Plus, I would soon be running out of snacks…

We made our emergency landing safe and sound, deplaned and the passengers all raced to a gate that was supposed to have a new working plane ready to go.

By this time I was all out of snacks and not very happy.

When we got to the new gate the plane was there but because one of the passengers accused the pilot of being drunk the pilot had to take a drug test. I wasn’t very happy about this because I knew we would be sitting at the airport–snackless–for a long time. The pilot was not particularly happy either and loudly told the passengers to expect a several hour delay. Ugggh…

By this time I was getting super annoyed. And hungry. Yet we were told we could not go far because at any minute the pilot could be declared sober and ready to go. This meant we could not go to any of the airport restaurants (which happened to be the only places in the Houston airport with decent/ healthy food to eat) Since I didn’t have very many options I bought a prepared $10 salad that couldn’t have contained more than 100 calories. $10 for 100 calories is not exactly “value received” plus it didn’t even make a dent in my appetite. I was every bit as hungry after eating the salad as before.

Subway Subs…Eat Fresh at the Airport?

Hours passed and still no word about whether the pilot was truly intoxicated….and no word as to when we could expect to take off. My son declared he was “STARVING” and that he needed to eat at once. The only place close enough to go was Subway. Hmmmm. I honestly had not been to a Subway in years and I was very skeptical about their “eat fresh” marketing campaign. Still, it was clearly a better choice than the other fried food, burger and pizza options cluttering the Houston airport. So off we went to get a Subway Sub…

And I have to say, I really was pleasantly surprised that Subway Subs did truly deliver a fresh and fast meal for my little guy. He created his own vegan sub with lettuce, onions, pickles, guacamole, peppers, olives, etc. —no cheese, no meat—on a whole grain bun. Not a bad choice at all. Here’s the video clip below. As you can see…he was in fact pretty hungry. I’ve never seen a kid eat so fast!

Resource found here

Sometimes, the stars all seem to align—you arrive at your hotel, weary from your travels, and check in at the front desk. The smiling clerk announces you’ve been upgraded, and you make your way up to your newly assigned suite, enjoying its luxuries for the cost of a standard double.

What, this has never happened to you? It’s not mere fantasy—read on to find tried-and-true recommendations for getting upgraded for your next hotel stay.

Don’t Be a Stranger. If there’s a hotel you visit frequently, make sure the staff knows you’re there and that you plan on returning again in the future. Be courteous and get to know the manager, front-desk clerks, and concierge. When you next make a reservation, contact the hotel directly, not a central reservations line. Before your arrival, get in touch with the property staff and let them know you’re arriving (offering a compliment on the property, service, etc., couldn’t hurt, either). Then, once you get there, politely mention your frequent visits and inquire if any upgrades are available. 

Is it a Special Occasion? Mention It! Are you traveling for a birthday, anniversary, or honeymoon? Be sure to tell the front desk staff. Oftentimes, to lure repeat guests and encourage good word-of-mouth, hotel staff will go out of their way to make special occasions even more memorable, and that may include an upgrade or other complimentary perk.

Be Loyal. Joining a hotel’s loyalty program can go far toward getting you free upgrades and other benefits. Most programs cost nothing to join, keep track of how often you stay at a brand hotel (e.g., Hilton, Wyndham, Marriott, etc.), record your preferences (non-smoking, rooms near an elevator, favorite snacks/refreshments), and also offer free stays (usually after a minimum requirement).

Be Fashionably Late. The later in the day you arrive, the less chance there is that the hotel has filled up unused inventory (possibly including higher-class rooms than the one you booked). Just make sure you inform the staff you’re arriving late—if you don’t show up during standard check-in hours, there’s a chance the hotel may automatically cancel your reservation.

Sweeten the Deal. My friend once got an upgrade at a Cancun hotel by smiling sweetly and slipping the front desk clerk a five-spot. Now, this may not work at every hotel, but it never hurts to offer an extra $10 or $20, if you think it may help. And a room upgrade for $20 or less, while not exactly free, still works out to be quite the bargain.

What’s your favorite way to get a free hotel upgrade? Share your strategies by submitting a comment below!

1. Select seats in advance, and remember that kids can’t sit in the exit rows. Find out if your flight offers pre-boarding for families with babies.
2. Babies under two can sit in your lap, but many parents prefer to bring along a carseat. Often, airlines will discount a seat for a baby by 50%.Combined car-seat stroller units are the most convenient way to get that cumbersome gear on board. Make sure the car-seat is FAA approved for use on planes, or it won’t be permitted on-board.An alternative to lugging that car-seat: CARES Airplane Seat Harness weighs less than a pound, and secures a child in the regular airplane seat.
3. Keep your stroller until the last possible moment. The stroller gives you mobility in the airport, it can carry a lot of your stuff, and if your flight is delayed, your baby has a comfy place to nap. Typically you can keep your stroller until boarding and then check it just before you step on the plane.
4. Bring three more diapers than you think you’ll need. Also bring zip-loc bags for any soiled clothes.
5. For babies, bring several changes of clothes, and extra clothes for yourself if possible (- the worst can happen). An extra t-shirt for older kids can come in handy, too: it seems to be easy to spill drinks on planes!
6. For bottle-feeding babies, bring ready-made formula or powdered formula to be used with bottled water. Security rules forbid liquids in sizes over 3 oz., but formula, breast milk, and juice CAN be brought if you’re with a baby. As for water,security rules don’t allow you to bring a bottle of water through the security gates, but you can bring an empty baby bottle or sippy cup and then buy water once you’ve passed the security gate. (Check latest rules for what you can bring on the plane.)

Continue reading here….