roamngrow, Author at Roam and Grow

Cancun

July 7, 2015 roamngrow Leave a comment

Back to Quintana Roo

May, 2014 | Sep, 2015

Bienvenidos Mexico. In the airport, we encountered thousands of apparently volunteering and helpful travel agents, who would like to give you a steal of a deal for travel packages to different tourist destinations around Cancun. We, like all naive tourists, listened to them initially, but fortunately got deterred by the too-good-to-be-true deals. TIP: Do not buy travel packages from the airport or volunteer agents. Hotel concierge would most likely be the best bet in getting the best packages, which would go easy on the wallet too.

Transportation to the hotel:

Most of the hotels are located in an area Avenida Kukulkan, 2 miles long stretch along the Caribbean sea, called Zona Hotelera. If not in a hurry, taking the airport shuttles (listed below) are cheaper and convenient. While the cabs may range from $40 to $50, the shuttles to the hotel zone costs less than $15 per person.

Tried and tested shuttle services: 1. Cancun Shuttle2. Super Shuttle Renting a car was on the cards, but the general consent from the hotel concierge was to refrain from it during the first visit. Although renting from the US rental agencies like Hertz could be cheap, the comprehensive coverage insurance, hassles with local cops, and troubles in the road including gas stations made us to rely on public transport. TIP: Rental car license plates are red in color, and easy to spot, therefore attracts undue attention. Unless one hables espanol, it is better to avoid rental cars in Cancun.

The Westin, Lagunamar

Westin Lagunamar Resort

Displaying the loyalty for Starwood brands, and lavish amenities, we chose the Westin Lagunamar resort for our brief vacation in Cancun. Apart from the unparalleled customer services, the resort sported a huge infinite pool, four multi-cuisine restaurants, and spacious rooms with breathtaking views of the ocean.

Since we reached before noon on day 1, we had a chance to enjoy the two beautiful pools, the warm surf, and the sand on a fantastic day. Poolside lunch, and plentiful tropical drinks ordered from the bar, sitting on the underwater bar-stools were heavenly. The apparently endless amenities of the resort included a relaxing hammock garden, splash zones, travel desk, and to top it off, in-room jetted-hot-tubs. The warm welcome from the hotel staff were so over-the-top, that we managed to buy ourselves a 2 bedroom villa as a vacation ownership. TIP: There are hotels in the Cancun downtown area, but invariably are away from the action. Choose a hotel in the Hotel Zone, and if needed take bus R1 or R2 to visit the downtown. Bus fare – 9.5 Pesos per person, one way.

La Isla mall

Well, after the day spent soaking in the sun and surf, we ventured out to check out the local shops and restaurants. The La Isla shopping complex was just across the street, and we managed to find a decent looking lagoon-side cafe that was sporting live music and salsa. We tried our hand in placing the food/drinks order in espanol, but failed miserably. Yet, the food, and the local Tequilla and Mezcals along with the experience were enough to top-off the day’s adventure.

Food: Pibil Chicken, Mixed Molcajetes

Drinks: Mezcals – Mezcal Amores Reposado and Milagrito del Corazon Joven

Food Scene and Nightlife

If you are staying in the Zona Hotelera, there are numerous places to eat, drink and party without having to get your rental car out of the parking. The buses run across the length of the Zona Hotelera (Avenida Kukulcan) and any restaurant or bar are within 15 – 30 minutes away. Here are some of our choices that we never regretted:

1. La Distillera – About half a mile away, we found the best Mexican food/drinks for the trip, at La Distillera. The jalapeno, habanero, and other tree pepper sauces made our night, alongside the Mezcals and real chalupas!! Happy Memories! We actually went back here on our second trip and sat beside the water. Check out reviews here.

2. Carlos’ and Charlie’s – Super fun if you go on a weekend dinner and drinks. Make sure you get a seat facing Coco Bongo and be prepared to stay late until like 10pm. Food and drinks are not the 5 Star kind, but it is fun; the experience you should not pass on. Check out my review here.

3. Pubs and dance clubs – Near Coco Bongo, on the strip, there are multiple dance clubs which gets pretty busy on the weekend nights. Sometimes you may think the fun is more than it is in Vegas. We checked out several bars/clubs, all have pretty dressy crowd so be prepared to show off.

Our favorite though was Monkey Business which had live music but wasn’t loud, may be because we are not in the 20’s anymore. It’s a tad north of the most happening area of the strip, but check it out. They did not have any covers when we went. Check out the reviews here.

Other places to check out if you are in the real clubbing mode – Daddy O’s, La Vaquita

TIPS:

Visa Requirements: No visa required for current US visa holders makes things a lot easier too.

Money: Most US banks have affiliation with one or two Mexican Banks. Bank of America has ties with Banco Santandor. If possible, get Pesos from one of the local ATMs. You will get a much higher rate compared to airports or US banks. Make sure the ATM you are withdrawing money from does not charge fees. Also, most places accept Dollars, albeit at an extremely high exchange rate.

Transportation: If you happen to rent a car, and do not speak Espanol, drive as cautiously as possible. Rental cars have a Red license plate, and the Policia can easily distinguish them if they intend to give you trouble. If not renting a car, check with the hotel if they can call taxis or Collectivos (basically shuttle/car pools). Otherwise if staying within the downtown or Zona Hotelera, R1 and R2 buses run all day and pretty frequently. Bus map and routes here.

City Travel

Quebec City, QC

July 1, 2015 roamngrow Leave a comment

Back to Canada

A mere 2.5 hours east of Montreal, this capital town of Quebec City province offers a plethora of options to be entertained and mesmerized. An utterly French speaking town, where nas parle Francais may cause overwhelm, at least in the local shops and food stalls. But before even entering the city, we went to visit the beautiful Montmorency Falls, about 15 minutes north of the city.

Montmorency Falls:

To enter the Parc de la chute Montmorency, we paid CAD12.00 and was greeted nicely by a French speaking lady. The grandeur of the falls do not surpass that of Niagara falls, but the height and the sheer volume of water pouring down dizzy heights make the view worthwhile. We were unprepared for the chill and the possibility of getting wet, but nevertheless walked along the wooden footbridge and went closer to the falls. The ~250 feet drop that is about 50 feet higher than the mighty Niagara falls was breathtaking and the power of the water cannot be explained unless experienced from 30-40 feet away.

After getting wet, we decided to take a closer look at the falls and took the cable car ride up to the falls and hiked along the paved trail to encounter the fall from closer than you’d dare to believe.

The suspension bridge above the falls is an amazing addition and probably an engineering feat. The entire volume of water, although controlled slightly, drops in two stages and flows into the Saint Laurant river which merges into the bay near by. The operating hours are sunrise to sunset, but the park partially closes during winter. I am sure the view of the falls in the winter will be fascinating.

Upper Town and Lower Town – Quebec City, QC
It was a nice warm summer afternoon when we drove back to the cute little French town of Quebec chemins of the old town would surely bring out the poet in you. The cozy sunset glow and the aroma of fuming french roast makes you dip in the romance of the moment makes time come to a stand still. But being the time bound tourists on a mission to explore the landmarks and capture them in the handheld cameras, we made our way to the visitor center through hustling streets of upper town.
The capital city of the Quebec City province is home to multiple historic sites, museums, and most importantly the nicest people around. A leisurely stroll around the upper and lower towns while listening to French chatter, street-side musicians playing melodies in their Saxophones and Grand Pianos, and clicking of hooves in the cobblestone
With the detailed map picked up from the visitor center, and our scratchy French, we navigated the maze-like streets to multiple attractions. This city is a paradise for the avid history lover. With French written all over, it boasts a 400 year old history which by no means compares to any European city. But nevertheless it is one of the oldest of the North American cities. Although the charm of the city may distract you to enjoy music and french ice-cream time and again, we recommend the following as a must visit:

Fairmont Le Chateau du Frontiac: Built by the Canadian-Pacific railroads in the late 1800’s, this chain of hotels were on major stops on the rail tracks to the western coastline. This specific hotel is one of the biggest landmarks of the city and can be seen from afar as it is situated on a hill next to the Saint Laurant river. It is where arguably the most historic meeting of World War II between Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt was held in 1944.
2. La Citadelle de Quebec: Also called the Citadel, it housed the active military regimen of the monarch of Canada and the Governor General. With stunning views of the city and historic landmarks, a walk along the two city gates is a must for the history enthusiasts and casual tourists alike.
3. Plains of Abraham: This is where the historic seven years’ battle between the French and the British army and navy took place in 1700’s.
4. Hotel du Parlement: The current parliament house houses major artifacts from the 400 year history. The free 30 minute tour is a worthwhile investment to learn about the intricate details of the history of the city.
5. Musee de la Civilization: After taking in all the history you can find in the city, top off with the well articulated displays in the museum to relate the historical events that built the city. Starting from the French invasion to replace the aboriginals in 1500’s to the modern establishment of the Quebec City in 1869, the visitor will be well versed with the city history.
6. Battlefields Park and fortifications: Fortifications and canons everywhere in the city sings the songs of the numerous battles fought here. A walk along the edges of the upper town while dwelling on imaginary war visuals boggled my mind.
7. Old Town: Winding alleys of old town, exquisite local artwork, and cobblestones streets are going to make you believe that you are in the other side of Atlantic. Be sure to click pictures, but do not forget to experience the charm of the area by visiting local shops and sink in the culture.

Food Scene and Nightlife:
No points for guessing how rich offerings in terms of restaurants a classic French town would have. Being the foodies we are, we managed to find some of the exquisite food options in town for all meals. Here are some key places we tried out and were mesmerized by each:
1. Chez Boulay – bistro Boreal: Has to be one of the best Nordic meals we have had. Confit Goose and Duck, and the Arctic Char were amazing. Be sure to get a reservation or get in before 7pm to avoid wait. Check Yelp reviews here.
2. Cochon Dingue – French breakfast/brunch place in lower town near the Ferry terminal. We had the french toast, and Salmon Confit benedict from the Dejeuner menu and enjoyed every bite of them. Yelp has reviews and recommendations for your aid, but if you can afford to spend some time to have brunch or breakfast check it out.

We are always up for exploring local pubs and bars to feel the local culture and experience the nightlife. So we walked a mile away from the touristy places and found a nice Karaoke bar in the city center. La Ninaksi du Faubourg did have a fantastic atmosphere with locals coming in and singing away. Beer list was exhaustive with local breweries featured in the draft. We enjoyed some melodious French songs and sang along while sipping some old school Canadian Whiskey. I am still humming some of the songs I learned there, and do recommend paying a visit if you are in town.

Accommodation:
We ended up staying in Levis, QC on the other side of the river. It is an easy ferry ride from the Quebec City ferry terminal and it costs about CAD 14 round trip for two. Our hotel in Levis – Four Points Sheraton was located close to the Levis ferry terminal too, and had ample parking space and upgraded interiors.

Additional Tips and Info:
Wi-fi: Every tourist’s worst nightmare these days is lack of data in their smartphones. QC definitely solves the problem, and along with other amenities displays how welcoming the city is to tourists. Every pub, restaurant has free wi-fi, and on the streets one can get into the city wi-fi network easily.
Restrooms: Many clean and safe public restrooms are located in the nooks and crannies of the city.
Language: It helps if you parlez Francais but no one frowned at us if we said je ne pas parle Francais. We were astonished by the locals’ ability to switch between French and English so swiftly and needless to say how courteous people are in this city.
Driving: Everyone drives in the right lane, and moves to the left lane only for passing. To an American driver, it is a sight from another planet. What a place!

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