Travel Planning

We’ve gathered some helpful airfare tips for the next time you’re shopping for a trip to Akumal!

Check fares often. Because airfares fluctuate like the stock market, you need to check them every day, or better still several times a day, if you’re serious about saving money. Airlines can update domestic fares three times a day during the week, and once on Saturday and Sunday (international fares tend not to change as often, but can be updated up to 5 times daily). Also, even if the fare itself hasn’t changed, seat availability at the lowest fares can change, so there might be just one seat available at 10 a.m., but the airline will open up more cheap seats later in the day.

Search airline sites individually, Some airlines have “private” sales, reserving their very best fares for their own sites. These are different from promo code fares.

And here are a few of our favorite airfare search engines:

Kayak.com - Claims to search more than 400+ travel sites, is cited by a significant majority of reviews as the best travel search engine. Kayak.com has some nifty features, including a tool that allows you to find the lowest fares from your closest airport. Kayak.com scores points in reviews for turning up lots of good deals for hotels and flights, though you won't find some of the comprehensive travel-planning features found elsewhere. That said, there is a very useful fare-comparison tool that let you see the lowest fares that other passengers paid for similar routes or to compare search results against those found on Expedia, Hotwire and other travel websites. You can also sign up for fare alerts, which are helpful because prices can change constantly.

FareCompare.com gets good reviews not only for the depth of its search capabilities, but for associated features that analyze trends and changes within the airline industry. With over 500 airlines and 270,000 destinations included in FareCompare.com's search function, this site is one of the top choices for international travelers as well. Reviewers especially appreciate FareCompare.com's fare-alert system, which contacts subscribers via e-mail when the tickets prices for their selected destinations are about to drop.

SideStep.com – The advantage SideStep has over other sites is that you can filter results, so for example, you can check that you only want to see flights between 5 A.M. and 9 A.M. You can compare flights, too. Kayak.com has filters too, but I find SideStep's easier to use —including a handy Web-only version of its travel search engine (it started out as a downloadable application for your PC, and that toolbar is still available) and separate search engines for vacation packages and cruises., etc.

Standard sites: Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz and more: Although reviews say that meta search engines -- particularly Kayak.com -- are the best places to start, standard travel sites have some additional features worth looking into.

Travelocity allows you to modify your search parameters to include dates of one to three days around your preferred travel days. You can also look for best fares on all days within a given month or date range.

Expedia receives a middling grade for overall customer satisfaction but has some great benefits for frequent flyers. The site also offers a 24-hour price guarantee.

Orbitz recently added an innovative social-networking tool that gives travelers updates from airports all across the U.S. that are clearly marked on a map and Hotwire.com , serve niches like eco tourism.

So grab your sunscreen and head to AKUMAL! We have some great WINTER SPECIALS happening right now!

ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN

RIP "Daddy". Cesar Millan’s longtime friend and partner in canine rehabilitation, died peacefully surrounded by family on Friday the 19th of February. He was sixteen years old. Millan had been preparing himself for this day, but it likely didn't make it any easier to say goodbye to a beloved friend. "I feel connected to all the dogs in my life. The feeling I have when they pass is one that I will never master."

Secret to Mayan Blue Paint Found

Did you know, Maya Blue was first identified by Harvard archaeologist R. E. Merwin at Chichén Itzá in the 1930s.

Maya Blue (Spanish: Azul Maya) is a unique bright blue to greenish-blue pigment manufactured by cultures of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, such as the Maya and Aztec.

Ancient Maya would paint unlucky people blue and throw them down a sacred well as human sacrifices. Now scientists have solved the mystery of how to make the famous blue pigment by analyzing traces on pottery left in the bottom of the well.

The Maya associated the color blue with their rain deities. When they offered sacrifices to the god Chaak, they would paint them blue in hopes he would send rain to make corn grow. The blue paint has been found on objects for a long time, but scientists have debated how the Maya created the pigment.

Now Gary Feinman, curator of anthropology at the Field Museum in Chicago, and Dean E. Arnold, a professor of anthropology at Wheaton College, have figured out the secret ingredient in the ancient Maya concoction.

Read the rest of the article on LiveScience here

5th Annual CEA Festival - Treat Our Water Well

Akumal Direct will once again be sponsoring the "Wine and Cheese Table" at this year's CEA Festival in Akumal, February 17th & 18th. Please stop by and say hello!

For more information visit Centro Ecologico Akumal or contact Paula Cook or Alma Boada via email at info@ceakumal.org

This year’s theme, “Treat Our Water Well” is the top priority for 2010. Here are some ways everyone can help.

CEA's Tips to Treat Our Water Well:

• Please don't waste water; make sure faucets are turned off.
• Protect trees, forests and jungles to prevent soil erosion and sedimentation.
• Don’t pollute ground water with cleaning solvents, chemicals, cigarettes, or sanitary napkins.
• Connect your house to adequate drainage systems, septic tanks or wetlands.
• Separate organics and grease.
• Use biodegradable sunblock.
• Don't leave any trash on the beach.
• Capture rainwater for use in the garden.


We are proud to continue to be a part of this annual event. Hope to see you there!
Akumal Direct Reservations

Carnaval 2010 – The Rhythm of Carnaval

Carnaval is to Mérida what Mardi Gras is to New Orleans and Río de Janeiro. The theme of this year's Carnaval is The Rhythm of Carnaval.

This is Merida's big FIESTA of the year and something we recommend to anyone who will be in the Yucatan at the time. Mérida's Carnaval is one of the five most important in the entire Mexican republic and one of the 12 principal Carnavals in all of Latin America. From February 10th to February 17th, locals and visitors will see the local culture as they live the traditional time of Carnaval.

There will be pre-Carnaval dances in the different commissaries and neighborhoods around the city. There will be a night when the parade floats are presented, all of this leading up to Wednesday, February 10th when all bad humor in the city will be symbolically burned, marking the officially beginning of Carnaval.

On Thursday February 11th, the Children's Parade will take place along with fireworks, dancing of the kings and queens of Carnaval. The parade route is from Palacio Municipal to Parque Santa Lucía.

The regular parade route starts at the Monumento a la Patria on Paseo de Montejo, then heads south ending up at the Parque de San Juan downtown. All along the route you will find stands selling food, beverages and games along with the local radio and TV stations presenting concerts by local, national and international guests
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The parades will take place from Friday the 12th to Tuesday the 16th of February with the presence of various groups that will compete for first place as the best group. Choreography and costumes will be the key factors that the judges will be looking at.

For more information, the official Carnaval schedule and ticket sales information please visit, yucatantoday.com

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine’s Day from Akumal Direct Reservations! Come celebrate La Buena Vida Restaurant's 14th Anniversary this Saturday, Feb 13th then head over to Lolha Restaurant and Snack Bar for Valentine’s Day dinner Sunday, Feb 14th!

Good morning from Akumal!

Sipping coffee overlooking Half Moon Bay. Where are you having your coffee this morning?

Bowl XLIV!

If you are in Akumal today, stop by Lolha Restaurant and Snack Bar to watch the game and support the Akumal United Fund. Proceeds to go to the needs of the Pueblo, Education and Community.

February e-Newseltter

Visit our February e-Newsletter here! http://www.bluetentmarketing.com/images/Akumal/2010/akumal_0210.html