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The last time I was in Mexico, so was everyone else, or so it seemed. But it is possible to travel to Mexico and enjoy a white sandy beach and some peace and quiet at the same time. All you need to know is where (and, in some cases, when) to go.

When to Go

November to April is widely regarded as the best time to visit. The summer months can get pretty hot. September and October is the peak of hurricane season, which actually stretches from November to June.

Keep in mind that the month of March tends to be very busy on the Mexico beaches with high school and college students on Spring Break. If it is a quiet vacation you want, you will also want to avoid the time around Christmas and Easter, as well as July and August.

Where to Go

There is a lot more to Mexico, and the Yucatan peninsula, than the city of Cancun.

Here are five favorite destinations that offer memorable Mexico vacations. Each of these spots can be reached by flying into Cancun. So if you would like to get a taste of the big city resort and then set out on the less traveled path, you will have the best of both worlds.

1. Isla Mujeres. Just 8 miles across the bay from Cancun, Isla Mujeres is a peaceful fishing village with restaurants, shops, and small, charming hotels. In fact, the whole island is cozy: The island itself is less than one mile wide and about five miles long. Downtown Isla Mujeres stretches only about six blocks. The signature turquoise waters and white sandy beaches make for great snorkeling and scuba diving. You can rent kayaks, snorkeling equipment and other gear right on the beach. Other activities to enjoy during your stay at Isla Mujeres include fishing, sailing, and swimming with the dolphins.

2. Riviera Maya stretches down the peninsula from Cancun to Tulum. Here, you will find white sandy beaches and water sports of all kinds, including scuba diving along the Great Maya coral reef, the second largest barrier reef system on the globe. Divers, and snorkelers may be rewarded with the sight of water life ranging from sea anemones, sponges and sea cucumbers to starfish and sea urchins, as well as underwater caverns. Sport fishing is a big business in Riviera Maya, as well. Other activities include golfing, spa going, and eco touring at the various ecological reserves in the region. Two highlights: the Xcaret EcoPark and the Sian Kaan bioshphere.

3. Playa del Carmen. About 40 minutes by car down the coast from Cancun, Playa del Carmen is growing into a bustling resort along Riviera Maya. If you like to shop, you will love Playa del Carmen. Boutiques in the town offer everything from cutting edge European fashions to crafts from local artisans.

During your stay, do not miss Quinto Avenida (Fifth Avenue). It is the heart of Playa. There are no cars, you can stroll the Avenue and be entertained by street performers, including artists and musicians. Playa del Carmen also features premiere dining, as the majority of the restaurants in the Riviera Maya are here, and quite a few of them are on Fifth Avenue itself. The bars and nightclubs are hopping on into the evening, so bring your dancing shoes.

4. XelHa. XelHa is an archeological site and eco park, located between Playa Del Carmen and Tulum. This destination offers adventures for all ages and mesmerizing ecological sights, as well as water sports, such as diving and snorkeling. You can swim with the dolphins here, as well. XelHa is particularly friendly for families and is bound to be an education in both Mayan history and ecology for the entire family.

5. Tulum. Drive a bit further south down the Mayan coast and you will find the small town of Tulum. Tulum is perhaps best known for its Mayan ruins, high on the limestone cliffs. These cliffs offer scenery you will not soon forget of the Caribbean alongside a picture perfect coastline. Tulum is the starting place for eco tourism and adventure travel, so make sure to look into nearby day trips and local attractions.

For an ideal and well rounded vacation, try a few days exploring the gradeur of Riviera Maya, then take some time to shop and play in the bustling Playa Del Carmen and another day or two visiting the Mayan ruins, and taking in the sites, of Tulum.

The word is out about these magnificent resorts, so you will not be able to avoid the crowds completely, but by striking out and having fun off the beaten path, you will find a good balance, and learn a lot about ecology and ancient Mayan culture.

Jamie Jefferson
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/insider-travel-tips-for-mexico-beyond-cancun-101906.html

Technorati Tags: Barrier Reef System, Best Of Both Worlds, Coral Reef, Favorite Destinations, Fishing Village, Hurricane Season, Insider Travel, Isla Mujeres, Mexico Beaches, Mexico Vacations, Quiet Vacation, Riviera Maya, Sandy Beaches, Second Largest Barrier Reef, Snorkeling Equipment, Swimming With The Dolphins, Traveled Path, Turquoise Waters, White Sandy Beach, Yucatan Peninsula

While school is a lovely place to explore history, math, English and science, there are many students who embark on journeys just to get a break from the classroom and campus. Student travel is a popular way to catch up with family and friends, catch new experiences, catch fresh air or sun rays, in some cases. From taking a cultural trip to partying during Spring Break, there are plenty of ways students take trips about the world. Below, you will find some of the most common aspects of student travel.

Studying Abroad

Depending on your major, the majority of higher learning institutions have utilized the beauty of in-depth, on-site learning that is accomplished through studying abroad. This particular opportunity usually accompanies various majors and concentrations, such as taking a cultural trip to the Dominican Republic to study Latin American history.

Usually, for one semester, students will travel to destinations around the globe to take classes in an environment much different than their own. This is a great time to experience the ins and outs of world politics, food, environment, culture, history and nature. The options for student travel for learning purposes ranges from Wales to Brazil to maritime exploration on the Pacific to South African medical study.

Spring Break

You may see many destinations listed for the best Spring Break hot spots for student travel, decorating the television screen as you flick through MTV during the springtime. Filled with margaritas and late-night clubbing, Cancun is one of the craziest places to attract the most Spring Breakers. Sandy beaches in Mexico provide just the right atmosphere to accommodate students who need a hefty dose of unwinding, while the energy of Las Vegas never stops.

Additional popular student travel choices for Spring Break include Acapulco, floating hotels in Negril, Jamaica, Shell Island and Panama City, Florida, Daytona Beach, the white beaches of Nassau, Bahamas and the ski resorts in Colorado.

Educational Conference

In regard to student travel, being chosen to represent your college at a conference is a great honor, depending on the subject. Not only will you get a chance to learn outside of the campus, but also enjoy all of the exciting acquaintances and city scenery you may come across during a trip. School-related conferences are just the thing to take a break from monotonous campus life.

Home For the Holidays

The most common times for student travel is when the holidays roll around. Thanksgiving and Christmas are some of the perfect times to visit family and friends. Whether it’s taking a road trip to reacquaint yourself with hometown hospitality or flying in to meet with the parents of your significant other, there are plenty of reasons for students to travel during the holiday season.

Student travel is a common activity that many colleges and universities both encourage, as well as make possible. Whether student travel is used to learn about specific cultures, relieve stress, gain new experiences or revisit the past, the possibilities serve as a never-ending adventure. It is through student travel that individuals have time to truly find themselves and conquer the world as up and coming adults.

Adrian Adams
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/tips-for-planning-your-student-travel-excursions-102877.html

Technorati Tags: Florida Daytona Beach, Food Environment, Hefty Dose, Higher Learning Institutions, History Math, Hotels In Negril Jamaica, Latin American History, Maritime Exploration, Math English, Nassau Bahamas, New Experiences, Panama City Florida, Sandy Beaches, Shell Island, South African Medical, Spring Break Hot Spots, Spring Breakers, Study Spring, Travel Choices, Travel Excursions

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and it’s more than a simple Italian island; Sicily is a unique place full of art, archaeology, history, folklore and Mediterranean breathtaking scenery.

Having been ruled by Asians, Africans and Europeans, this wonderful island is a cosmopolitan place with a multicultural society. Imagine this: Sicily have been a Greek colony, a Roman province, an Arab emirate and a Norman kingdom. The Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Swabians, Angevins and Aragonese made Sicily their own, leaving behind an eclectic history that you can still touch today!

Knowing this is easy to understand why this land is so complex, and why it’s a land like no other.

WHAT TO DO THERE

Just because the great natural beauty of the land (Sicily is an island in the sun, with heavenly beaches, majestic mountains and Europe’s greatest vulcan, Mount Etna) and the incredible complexity of it’s history, there is really very much to do there!

Basically, you can group your activities in Sicily into five main categories:

Swimming. The island’s rocky coastline makes it an ideal diving platforms; snorkellers and scuba divers will appreciate the variety of marine life in its waters.

There are also plenty of beaches to choose from, particularly at Taormina in the north-east, which is part of a huge nature reserve, and Mondello, near the town of Palermo, one of the island’s most popular sandy beaches.

Climbing and Trekking. The Romans thought the 3,323-metre Mount Etna - which last erupted in 2001 - was the forge of Vulcan, the god of fire. Local authorities monitor its activity closely, and visitors can take a day trip up to its lava dunes and moon-like surface. If you don’t fancy the hike, the 70-mile Circumetnea railway runs around the base from Catania to Giarre Riposto. A round trip takes around five hours.

Driving. One of the best ways to explore the island is driving all around it, to explore the many historical and archaeological places. The Old Palermo (In just a few hours on foot you can explore some of Sicily’s most famous monuments and charming squares, such as the Piazza Pretoria), the Valley of Temples in Agrigento (The largest collection of classical Greek ruins in the world, with many well preserved temples, monuments and other buildings which create a truly surreal atmosphere), the Greek Amphitheater in Taormina (The view of Mount Etna and the sea beyond is absolutely superb at Taormina’s 10,000-seat ancient Greek amphitheater, which was erected in the third century BC and expanded by the Romans),

Siracusa (with it’s dense archeological zone, with theatres ancient churches, greek temples, norman battlements, baroque façade and much more), Monreale Duomo (A jewel of Norman architecture, well known for its magnificent series of mosaics adorning the whole interior), and many many other attractive places around this beautiful land.

Eating. Sicilian cuisine is one of the oldest in existence, and Sicilians even have a reasonable claim to the invention of pasta. Their cuisine represents Sicily’s unique cultural mix, imaginatively combining fish, fruits, vegetables, and nuts with Arab and North African ingredients such as cus cus (couscous). Stop for a coffee anywhere in Sicily, even along the coastal road, and you’ll be overwhelmed by an embarrassment of little riches, like fried sweet or savory dough pockets stuffed with ricotta. Every town has its own trademark snack, but they all have arancini, literally “little oranges,” which are actually deep-fried risotto balls, one of Sicily’s trademark snack foods. Driving around the most famous localities you can taste many specific and local cuisines. Also snacks are in rare form in Sicily. Catania is famous for sweets: pasta di mandorla, a soft cookie made from almonds and honey, is a delicious showcase for the famous Sicilian bitter almond. Going to Siracusa don’t miss the spectacularly chaotic and wonderful fish market in the center of the city: fresh pesce spada (swordfish) and ricci (raw sea urchin) are a must!

Marsala is a sleepy town with an ancient Punic warship in its archeological museum and an amazing wine tradition that spans hundreds of years. You may encounter marsala wine more often in a dish of sauteed chicken or veal than you do as a after-dinner drink, but here, this fortified wine is taken very seriously.

Palermo is the place where you can have the chance to sample the island’s most traditional home-cooked specialties. Pasta con le sarde (an emblematic dish that goes back to the Saracen conquerors, with fresh sardines, olive oil, raisins, pine nuts, and wild fennel) is different at every restaurant. Firm white fish such as orata (sea bream), simply grilled and served with lemon and olive oil, are reliable staples as secondi piatti almost anywhere in town. And nothing is more famous in Palermo, or in Sicily as a whole, than spaghetti alla Norma (with a sauce of tomato, fried eggplant, ricotta, and basil).

TRAVELLING TO SICILY

If you plan to bring your own car or have hired a car in a different part of Italy, at some point you will need to take a ferry. The same goes for if you are arriving by train.

There are many option to get there with your car: you can book your ferry from many ports (Naples, Genova, Villa S. Giovanni, and Cagliari), and you can choose four different Ferry Companies (Tirrenia, SNAV, Grandi Navi Veloc,i Caronte)

You can also book hydrofoils, but in this case you can’t bring your car with you.

Getting to Sicily by Ferry, there are a few things you should take into consideration, like the frequency of the Ferry services, booking rules, and places where buy tickets…

Although passenger and car ferries do operate throughout the year, Car ferries to and from Sicilia get extremely busy during the summer and it is advisable to book your ticket well in advance. This can be done at the various ticket offices located in travel agencies, but what we strongly recommend is to get in touch with a professional agency, to get all you need in one simple stop. That’s what Traghetti Sicilia can do for you! General information’s, timetables, tickets, travel assistance and much more, to help you booking with ease your ferry tickets from Naples, Genova, Villa S. Giovanni, and Cagliari ports. Traghetti Sicilia Agency is now open 24/24 and this will speed up and simplify the whole process for you.

Roberto Gardenti
http://www.articlesbase.com/cruising-articles/tips-to-enjoy-your-travel-in-sicily-140090.html

Technorati Tags: Angevins, Arab Emirate, Archaeological Places, Archaeology History, Breathtaking Scenery, Carthaginians, Cosmopolitan Place, Diving Platforms, Forge Of Vulcan, Greek Colony, Heavenly Beaches, History Folklore, Island In The Sun, Italian Island, Majestic Mountains, Mount Etna, Rocky Coastline, Sandy Beaches, Swabians, Town Of Palermo