After five and a half hours on a bus that descended via narrow, rough dirt roads to the bottom of Batopilas Canyon in Mexico‘s rugged Copper Canyon complex, I was more than ready to stretch my legs. But my rush to get off the bus was less about my sore bottom and more about the need to find a hotel room. This tiny town of barely 800 residents is famously short of hotel rooms and I had arrived, as usual, without reservations. To make matters worse, it was Semana Santa (Easter) week, one of the most popular holidays in Mexico. During the ride down I had conspired with a fellow backpacker; he would get my suitcase and I would sprint for the hotels while everyone was waiting for their luggage to be unloaded.

Hotel Juanita's, Batopilas, in Mxico's Copper Canyon

My friends in Urique had recommended two potential places to stay: Hotel Mary and Hotel Juanita. Since the bus stop was across the street from Hotel Mary, I dashed into there first. It was tolerable but relatively rough, so I ran across the plaza to Hotel Juanita, where to my surprise I found sparkling clean, modern rooms with ensuite bathrooms for only $200 pesos (~$17 USD) per night. I quickly secured two rooms and ran back to the bus where my new acquaintance waited anxiously to learn the outcome. With a big grin on my face I said, “You’re gonna love this place!” Read More »

View from our balcony & outdoor tables

Last winter my family invited me to come stay with them in the Marriott Plaza Andaluza, a vacation club resort in Spain.

Besides its location, what I loved most about it was the inclusive property details and furnishings. This is the sort of resort that caters to the large family on vacation as much as they cater to the romantic couples. There are many white hill towns to see and coastal areas to explore, this location worked perfectly for sight-seeing in Southern Spain.

There are multiple outdoor pools of differing sizes and styles. One we walked by was clearly meant for watching over the little ones, while another was set back from the beach front and overflowing with beach chairs pointing directly into the sunlight, perfect for sunbathing. Read More »

All-inclusive resorts are not just for the Caribbean. On the east coast of Florida, mid-way between Orlando and Miami, you’ll find Club Med Sandpiper All-Inclusive Resort. Situated along the Saint Lucie River and just 6 miles to the beach, Sandpiper offers numerous amenities including golf, tennis, swimming, and wellness center.

Sandpiper All-Inclusive Resort Deluxe Room, St Lucie, Florida

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Are you a photographer, professional or amateur, who loves to take pictures of nature, beaches, and the sunset? If not, WHY NOT? That’s besides the point.

On the west coast of the Florida peninsula runs a long strip of photogenic beaches on the Gulf of Mexico perfect for sunset photography. Sugary-white sand beach with the calm, sea-blue water offers the best backdrops for an level photographer.

The following is a list of hotels directly on the beach with optimum camera positioning.

The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, Florida

Ritz Carlton, Sarasota, Florida

As the photo shows, the Ritz-Carlton is conveniently located directly on the beach. My bets are, with the impeccable service the Ritz provides, you’ll have no problems setting up a private location from which to capture the perfect shot.

Holiday Inn St. Petersburg Marina Cove, Florida

Holiday Inn, St. Petersburg, Florida

Imagine the foreground of your sunset shots with the palm frond-covered huts shown above. Near perfection, if you want my opinion. Stay at the Holiday Inn St. Petersburg Marina Cove for an affordable rate with the same sugar-white sand and the more expensive hotels.

Marriott Key Largo Bay Beach Resort, Florida

Marriott Key Largo, Florida

Arguably, one of the world’s most perfect tropical locations, the Florida Keys are home to some of the best photography-taking opportunities in all of Florida. Palm trees on the beach are in abundance as you capture your photograph of the sunset with the perfect silhouette of a sailboat heading out for a night-time cruise.

Edgewater Beach Hotel, Naples, Florida

Edgewater Hotel, Naples, Florida

Tropical elegance is the selling point of the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Naples. It’s hard to get closer to the beach than the few steps it takes to make it to the water’s edge. As one of the Waldorf=Astoria’s Collection hotels, top-notch service is worth the visit.

Harbour Master Hotel, Cedar Key, Florida

Harbour Master Hotel, Cedar Key, Florida

Rustic, classic Florida beach hotel is the best way to describe the stay at the Harbour Master Hotel in Cedar Key, Florida. Located on Cedar Key at the boat harbor, you can capture the best of the small-town, Florida flavor with the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico as your backdrop.

Photos Courtesy: Ritz-Carlton, Holiday Inn, Marriott, Edgewater Naples, Harbour Master Hotel