Khan who suffered from jaw problems since childhood saved a huge 68% on his dental bill by having his dental surgery in Mexico. Thanks to Healthbase, the award-winning medical tourism and dental tourism facilitator that arranged his dental travel abroad, Khan was able to rescue his deteriorating gums.

Americans choose to travel overseas for dental care or medical care largely because of lack of insurance. Some have to seek this route despite being insured and Khan, who used Healthbase for his dental travel, was one of them.

“I have pretty good insurance from my employer. However, the orthognathic surgery that I needed was not covered,” says Khan. He had a significant overbite that caused his upper tooth gums to erode. Only a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy surgery to fix his lower jawbone could solve this problem. Continue Reading

After a very successful ribbon cutting ceremony that was attended by the prime minister of Belize a few months ago, Las Terrazas began welcoming occupants into its finished phase I construction. Now Las Terrazas is making available recently released phase II residences at pre-construction prices for a limited time this spring.

Amid North America’s housing and mortgage gloom, investors and second-home buyers are finding that the sun is still shining brightly in the Caribbean hotspot of Belize. The 4.8-acre community of Las Terrazas (www.lasterrazasbelize.com ), a premier real estate development on the island of Ambergris Caye, has seen its new beachfront villas and condos in Belize remain a hot investment opportunity – as well as one of the country’s most sought-after destinations.

Elsewhere, the headlines have been downright dismal. As the Associated Press recently reported for new home sales in the United States: “The median price of a home sold in March of this year dropped by 13.3 percent compared with March 2007, the biggest year-over-year price decline since a 14.6 percent plunge in July 1970.”

That report comes fast on the heels of another measure of the housing slump throughout the U.S., with the median price of existing home sales declining by 7.7 percent from one year ago. Canada hasn’t seen the same meltdown and home prices are expected to rise, albeit more slowly than in recent years, according to the Bank of Canada. Continue Reading

American Airlines is to open another new route from South Florida to the Caribbean this fall when the airline begins nonstop service from Miami to the southern Caribbean island of Grenada.

American will begin flying between Miami and Grenada on 20 November 2008, using Boeing 737-800 aircraft configured with 16 seats in First Class and 132 seats in the Main Cabin.

The new service complements existing flights to Grenada from San Juan, Puerto Rico, offered by American Eagle, the regional affiliate of American Airlines.

Known as the “Spice of the Caribbean” for the abundance of spices the island produces, Grenada is also well-regarded for its cool sea breezes, unhurried pace, picturesque towns, lush rain forests, stunning beaches, and exquisite coral reefs. Continue Reading

“Tourism Entrepreneurship –Sustaining and Transforming Communities”
The 1st IIPT International Community Tourism Retreat will be held from June 20-24, 2008 in Kingston, Jamaica at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in association with the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association (JHTA), the Ministry of Tourism, the Jamaica Tourist Board, and Countrystyle Community Tourism Network.

Theme for the Retreat is “Tourism Entrepreneurship – Sustaining and Transforming Communities.”

Participants will include Communities, Community Based Organizations, Non-Government Organizations, Public Sector, Private Sector, special interest organizations, educational groups and international community tour operators and travel agents.

The Retreat will also include a Trade Show, special community tours and the hosting of delegates in communities. Continue Reading

Caribbean Travel & Tourism is expected to generate close to US $57 billion in 2008 rising to US $100.5 billion over the next ten years, according to the latest Tourism Satellite Accounting (TSA) research launched today by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and its strategic partner Accenture.

Overall the TSA results reveal moderate growth for Travel & Tourism Demand in the Caribbean in 2008, growing at 2.3% Long-term forecasts point to a stable phase of growth between 2009 and 2018 with the rate of growth averaging 3.2% per annum.

Among the largest economies, Puerto Rico leads with Travel & Tourism Demand accounting for US $10.8 billion, followed by Dominican Republic

However, these forecasts are falling below the 2008 world average of 3%, which itself has fallen as a result of the global economic downturn. The long-term forecasts points to a mature but steady phase of growth for world Travel & Tourism between 2009 and 2018, averaging a growth rate of 4.4% per annum. Continue Reading

Turn your travel fantasy into reality now with Riviera Nayarit’s “Design your Dream Vacation” contest. This contest offers travelers the opportunity to design their ideal Riviera Nayarit getaway and if they win, their dream will be fulfilled. Contestants can learn about the many attractions of the region on the destination website (www.rivieranayarit.com) and include the experiences they would most enjoy in their perfect vacation when they enter to win.

Riviera Nayarit has partnered with the Palladium Vallarta Resort Punta Mita as the host hotel for this contest. The resort is located in a blissful setting, surrounded by verdant native vegetation and with a private beach front of fine white sand bathed by the beautiful waters of the Mexican Ocean. For more information please visit www.fiestahotelgroup.com

All fully completed contest entrees submitted from now until June 30, 2008 will be placed in a judging process of marketing professionals who will rank originality, creativity and marketing usability of the contest submission. The winner will be selected and contacted via email by July 31, 2008. Travel for winners can take place from September 1- December 15, 2008 or April 15- September 30, 2009. Blackout dates may apply. The winner’s trip is provided courtesy of the Riviera Nayarit Convention & Visitors Bureau and Palladium Vallarta Resort Punta Mita. Continue Reading

LetsGoMexico.com, an online source for travel and vacations in Mexico, announces the relaunch and redesign of its Web site. The site provides information on hotels and resorts in Mexico, Mexico tourist destinations and more.

LetsGoMexico.com, the comprehensive and up-to-date travel information source for vacations in Mexico, announces the redesign and relaunch of its Web site, www.LetsGoMexico.com.

“LetsGoMexico.com seeks to provide consumers with an unsurpassed experience in travel planning and savings for all their travel needs,” says Nicola Mina of LetsGoMexico.com. “With superior navigation tools, competitive rates and a novel approach to displaying hotel choices in a visual format, LetsGoMexico.com will become a crucial stop for online travelers seeking that unique Mexico travel experience.”

At LetsGoMexico.com, we’re passionate about what we’re doing. As the expert in Mexico vacations, the updated site provides even more resources tourists need for planning a wonderful trip to Mexico.
LetsGoMexico.com gives instant access to the largest selection of hotels and all inclusive resorts in Mexico. More than a travel guide, the site’s selection of Mexico hotels, all inclusives and bed and breakfasts are listed with photos, locations, rates and descriptions. More than 1,000 accommodations are listed on LetsGoMexico.com, ready for instant online reservation via the site’s easy and safe hotel reservation service. Continue Reading

Dubai-based Nakheel Hotels is to acquire a 50% stake of Mexican resort, One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, based on a total enterprise value of US$315 million. Nakheel Hotels is acquiring its stake from certain funds affiliated with the Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds, a series of real estate opportunity funds sponsored and managed by Goldman Sachs & Co, while existing joint venture partner, Kerzner International, will retain its 50% stake.

The resort is a 172-room ultra-luxury ocean front resort managed by Kerzner International under the award-winning One&Only brand. It features a Jack Nicklaus 27-hole championship golf course, a world class 22,000 sq ft spa featuring 13 spa villas, a 7,000 sq ft executive conference centre, two oceanfront infinity swimming pools, acclaimed restaurants and a wedding chapel. One&Only Palmilla is located on the Southern tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula and benefits from oceanfront natural beaches, its own private peninsula and close proximity to San Jose del Cabo International Airport.

Joe Sita, Chief Executive, Nakheel Hotels, said, “One& Only Palmilla represents an important investment for Nakheel Hotels. We are constantly looking for opportunities to add value to our investments in companies such as Kerzner and this acquisition fulfils that strategy perfectly. Latin America is very important in the global tourism market and this deal marks our first entry into this lucrative region.” Continue Reading

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico  – The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico’s economy has never been this attractive to an infinite number of local and foreign investors until a couple of years ago.

The island’s major challenges, prior to the tourism investment renaissance of the last 18 months, have included a growing structural deficit covered by excessive borrowing, decreased Government Development Bank liquidity, growing debt levels and large unfunded pension liability. But according to the president of the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico, Jorge Irizarry, fiscal reform is in full implementation and spending has decreased the structural deficit from US$1.4 billion in fiscal year 2006 to US$350 million in 2008. Furthermore, “The tax reform has been implemented and is substantially on target, thus increasing revenues in spite of the US economic slowdown and the sales tax that produces almost twice the revenue of the excise tax it substituted. A government restructuring plan for economic growth is being implemented,” he said emphasizing private sector growth and involvement is on an upswing. Continue Reading

Air Canada is expanding service to Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago this spring with designated, non-stop flights to each country that will provide greater convenience and better connections for travellers.

“Air Canada is meeting the growing demand for both business and leisure travel between Toronto and Caracas, Venezuela, and Port of Spain, Trinidad. Where previously we had a single flight serving both cities, this spring we are enhancing our service by commencing separate, non-stop flights for each destination. This will result in faster travel times, better connections and overall increased ease of travel for our customers,” said Daniel Shurz, vice-president of network planning at Air Canada.”Customers travelling to and from Venezuela and Trinidad will be able to take advantage of Air Canada’s extensive domestic, transborder and international network by connecting through our Toronto hub.” Continue Reading