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28 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday January 6, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Sam Ion answers your travel questions Dear Sam: In your last week's column you mentioned golf. Can you recommend a sun spot where it doesn't cost the earth to play? I like Mexico a lot, but some of the prices are almost a second mortgage on the house. My wife claims that if I can afford those prices, I can afford to spring for a huge shopping trip on our holidays. -Reader Dear Reader: I love the Playa Azul Golf and Beach Resort on the island of Cozumel in Mexico. It is a little gem, just 50 rooms, and privately managed by a delightful couple. When I was there several years ago, the food was excellent. This is not all-inclusive but golf is included. The golf course by cab is US $5. I wouldn't recommend walking unless at dawn; it is just too hot. Club storage is $5 per bag, per night, complimentary for guests of the hotel. The mandatory golf cart is US $25 per person per round. The rooms are bright and spacious, and the suites can accommodate up to five people. The beach is smaller than it was when I was there thanks to Hurricane Wilma, but the little cove is still great. A buffet breakfast is included, and with Sunwing Vacations, two kids stay and eat breakfast free. If you are considering it, look into tee times before you book. You need to book them early at golf-tours.com. To go downtown you can either take a cab or rent a car or moped. Dear Sam: I'm confused about what I need to get into the U.S. these days. Do I need a passport for flying? I have a Canadian Passport, but I wasn't born in Canada. -Not a world traveler Dear Not: It is confusing to the rest of us too. Here is the latest from our Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: As of January 23, 2006 you'll need a valid Canadian passport to fly into the U.S. or through it to another destination. You can also use a NEXUS Air card, when you're using it at a NEXUS Air Kiosk. If you don't have either of these two things, you'll be referred to secondary screening, where U.S. Customs will evaluate any evidence of citizenship and identity. And that means you may be prevented from entering. By January 2008 or at the latest June 2009 you'll need a passport to drive, or come in by ship, boat, canoe. So, because of the wait period, as you can imagine, our passport offices are busy, so get your passport now. When I asked a colleague of mine, who also wasn't born in Canada, she said: "If you were not born in Canada, but have become a Canadian citizen, you will have been issued a Certificate of Citizenship. When I travel out of Canada, I now carry both the Certificate of Citizenship and Canadian passport. Going across the border with just a Canadian passport has provided extra questions for me from the authorities, but as soon as I show the Certificate of Citizenship, I am OK to travel through. " Dear Sam: Do I have to put my third child up for adoption in order to go south? I'm not finding any resorts that allow three children on the discount web sites. I'm spending hours going through them. I don't understand how they can discriminate this way. -Mother of Three Dear Mom: Hop over to a travel agent to find one. For instance Frigate Bay Resort in St. Kitts accepts three kids in a room, and two kids stay and eat free. The Barcel Bavaro in Punta Cana accepts three kids without breaking your credit card. These are both in the Sunquest book. Nolitours offers the Lagunamar Resort and Casino on Margarita Island. Their rooms are large, and the resort has many pools, and the one of the nicest kids' pool-play area I've ever seen. In Cancun Mexico, the Hotetur Beach Paradise, also in Nolitour's book, has rooms big enough for three kids and two adults. Two of your kids from 2-12 stay and eat free. The third child pays a child rate. I understand why there are limits to the number of people in a room; I used to own a resort. Extra people are hard on the room, especially if it isn't particularly big. It makes for much more wear and tear, meaning that the room has to be decorated and the beds changed more often. -- Sam Ion can be reached at sion10@cogeco.ca. WINDSTAR CRUISES wins 2006 "BEST CRUISE VALUE" Windstar Cruises has again earned recognition as the "Best Overall Cruise Value" in the "High-Deluxe", 5-Star+, Small-Ship category from the prestigious World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society (WOCLS). Windstar Cruises offers a true escape from the large cruise ships with a casual ambience while at the same time, many of the comforts and amenities of a larger vessel, such as single seating dining and no assigned seating, within an atmosphere of casual comfort. Wind Surf ­ Degrees of Difference Enhancements The Wind Surf fresh from its Degrees of Difference updates for the 2007 Caribbean Season e sails alternating Northbound (Nevis, St. Martin, St. Barts, Guadeloupe, Iles des Saintes and St. Lucia) and Southbound (Bequia, Dominica, St. Lucia, Mayreau, St. Grenada and Tobago) itineraries roundtrip from Bridgetown, Barbados. Degrees of Difference enhancements include the new Yacht Club ­ the social hub complete with computers, internet and espresso. Remodeled staterooms with new updates bathrooms, Bose SoundDock speakers, Apple iPod Nanos pre-loaded with music and Egyptian cotton towels and bath amenities by L'Occitane en Provence. The Bistro has been re-named Degrees and serves Splichal-inspired steakhouse menus four nights a week. And "Best Cruise Value" means great prices . . . for example Wind Surf Northbound cruise, 1 week, cruise-only, Category "B", February 18, 2007 is just CA$2,240.82 plus 57.10 Port Taxes. For more information and availability, give us a call. BEAVER TRAILS TO CHINA: The Oakville Beaver at the Great Wall of China near Beijing. Pictured Visit McTavish At: www.mctavishtravel.com here on the left is Linda Ranson-Smith of Oakville and her newly adopted niece Hannah Camille and her mommy, Dr. Marilyn Ranson of Toronto. Take along a copy of The Oakville Beaver on your next vacation and send it in for publication to Beaver Trails, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4 or e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS Your guide to local travel experts and the best deals to your perfect getaway! Voted Best Travel Agency Best Cruise Company Best Travel Agent Thanks Oakville! Hopedale Shopping Centre 1515 Rebecca Street, Oakville Relax... you're with us Oakville Location: 221 Lakeshore Road E. (905) 827-1100 fax: (905) 827-4982 e-mail: travel@mctavish.com 905-337-2228 wwwhookedoncruising.com 146 Lakeshore Rd. E. 905-842-4999 lakeshore@travelchoice.ca