28 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday December 2, 2006 www.oakvillebeaver.com ROYAL HIDEAWAY PLAYACAR Occidental Hotels and Resorts' flagship all-inclusive property in the Riviera Maya, Royal Hideaway Playacar has been voted one of the "Top 15 Mexico Resorts" by the readers of Condé Naste Traveler. Out of a possible 100, Royal Hideaway Playacar received 93.5, placing #2 on the list. Earlier this year, it became one of only 2 all-inclusives to earn the AAA Five Diamond Award. That achievement is the most recent signal of a new trend: the all-inclusive hotel is growing up and growing out of a long awkward phase as many companies upgrade their properties and their images, driven largely by a boom in intergenerational travel and by increased consumer demand for luxury. Ideally situated on 13 lush acres of Mexico's Riviera Maya, the resort is the definitive standard for all-inclusive luxury. Dedicated to the most discerning traveller, Royal Hideaway Playacar welcomes guests to experience the finest in luxury accommodations including a private villa concierge, a full service spa, six gourmet à-la-carte restaurants, numerous lounges, unlimited watersports, exciting land activities and tours deep into the Yucatan Peninsula. It's grand in an old-fashioned plantation sort of way, with lots of marble, palm-shaded grounds and little footbridges over the decorative pools. The defining moment, though, is dinner. All-inclusives do not, even now, get high marks for gastronomy. But at the Royal Hideaway, you can book a table at Ventana's, a restaurant run by Sergi Arola - the chef who presides over the Michelin-two-star La Broche in Madrid. The exceptional seven-course tasting menu is served in a very chic dining room with nice wines and elegant service, and you don't even have to tip. The meal alone would easily cost over $200.00 in Toronto. Occidental Hotels & Resorts is one of the world's leading hotel companies and one of the largest all-inclusive resort chains in the Americas. Occidental Hotels & Resorts has more than 20 properties in key destinations under the Allegro, Occidental Grand and Royal Hideaway brands. For more information give us a call! Asking Sam's advice Dear Sam: A friend with two young teenage sons is looking for leads on volunteer vacations for families. Can you help? And I need to tell her if it is free as long as you work? Reader Dear Reader: I did find this question intriguing. I've done a bit of research, and know of a trip to Bulgaria this summer, to help in an orphanage. There will be work, and of course some sightseeing. Cost is not finalized yet, but two weeks will be somewhere around $2,800 each of two. There are usually hefty charges involved in doing this work. Check in your community, and with the churches in your city, often they are organizing working vacations. I've found some websites that might at least get you started. They include: w w w. e a r t h w a t c h . o r g , www.globalvolunteers.org, www.habitat.ca, www.sierraclub.org, www.volunteerinternational.org, www.taketothehills.org. Hello Sam, I really enjoy your features in the community newspaper and was wondering if you still had a copy of the story on the Copper Canyon. I am interested in taking that trip this February and recall a very detailed description of it in the paper. Thank you and best regards. SS Dear SS: That was a trip put together for one date last February. Collette Tours offers the same trip, so ask your travel agent to check it out for you. Dear Sam: Your job sounds like fun, how nice to get paid while on vacation. I've always wanted to learn to write. Are there any courses you can recommend? I keep hearing horror stories about customs taking goods away. Reader Dear Reader: The problem arises for passengers, in transit, in Europe, if you were to buy more than 100ml of liquids (such as perfume or liquor). If you are changing planes in Europe, you are required to go through a secondary security search. It is at this point, you will lose any liquid you have over 100 ml. You will not be allowed through security with these items, even though you have bought them at a duty free shop at another airport. The simple rule is this: if you are flying from Toronto to Paris and are not transferring anywhere, your liquid duty free products can be brought onboard and you can enjoy them after you leave the airport in Paris. If you have to transfer in Paris to another flight, you will lose your purchases once you go through security to board your next flight. The good news is this won't affect you if you're flying into the U.S. and transferring planes. Why? Because international passengers flying to the U.S. must re-claim their baggage and re-check it before getting onto the next flight. That gives you an opportunity to take the duty free liquid purchases you made in Canada and stick them into your checked luggage, before you re-check it again. Confused? Don't worry, so is most of the world. But until the duty free industry can convince the European Union that liquids purchased at duty free shops are secure (and they are fighting it as we speak) you must remember -- changing planes in Europe could mean losing that expensive bottle of cognac. Sam Ion can be reached at sion10@cogeco.ca. Visit McTavish At: www.mctavishtravel.com Wrap up the Sun How much tissue paper does it take to wrap up a Caribbean Island or a Scottish castle? How many miles of ribbon would you need to tie a big red bow around a cruise ship or a Boeing 747? Not to worry, giving the gift of travel is much easier than that. Total Travel offers travel Gift Certificates which can be used just like cash towards the purchase of holiday arrangements of your choice. They are available in any denomination from as low as $25 to as much as.... Well, the sky's the limit! Gina Cheng Travel Gift Certificates are the perfect stocking stuffer for those friends and family members on your holiday gift list that are hard to buy for and/or love to travel; and who doesn't love to travel? A great idea is to create a travel themed stocking or gift box. You can wrap up a copy of Ensemble Select Vacations, some sunscreen, a beach towel, sunglasses, a snorkel and fins and, of course, a travel Gift Certificate. It's the perfect starter kit for anyone's holiday needs as it still allows them total flexibility to purchase the holiday of their choice, but is much more personal than cash. While Travel Gift Certificates are the perfect holiday gift or stocking stuffer, they are also great for weddings or anniversaries, birthdays, graduations and even house-warming parties. Travel Gift Certificates can be purchased through our Travel Agency and our counselors will be happy to provide you with full details on how they can be used. Pick up your copy of the NEW Ensemble Select Cruises Brochure and enter to WIN Oakville Town Centre I 300 North Service Road, W. Oakville 905.849.0333 www.totaltravel-oakville.com Would be travel writer Dear Would Be: You made my day. Thankyou. It is the best laugh I've had in a long time. The travel I do is not even vaguely like a vacation. My holidays are either at the cottage, or in my garden. The travel I do is work, hard work. If I'm lucky I may get a swim a day while I'm in sunny spots, and that swim is either late in the day or early in the morning. Travel writers are on the run, for up to 18 hours a day when they're looking at a destination. And by the way the money is terrible. But yes, it can be exciting. George Brown College has an excellent program of continuing education and included in their English and Communications courses is a course entitled The Complete Travel Writer. I confess to a bias, I teach the Fundamentals of Reporting. The next travel writing course starts Jan. 9, and goes until March 27. It is at the St. James Campus on King East, so it is very convenient for people like me who take the bus into town. Check the web, www.coned.georgebrown.ca. Dear Sam: What can you advise us on regarding bringing duty free goods back? We're going away soon and Ont Reg No 2766538 TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS Your guide to local travel experts and the best deals to your perfect getaway! Ont Reg No 2766538 Oakville Location: Oakville Town Centre I 300 North Service Road, W. Oakville 905.849.0333 www.totaltravel-oakville.com 146 Lakeshore Rd. E. 905-842-4999 lakeshore@travelchoice.ca Voted Best Travel Agency Best Cruise Company Best Travel Agent Thanks Oakville! Hopedale Shopping Centre 1515 Rebecca Street, Oakville Relax... you're with us 221 Lakeshore Road E. (905) 827-1100 fax: (905) 827-4982 e-mail: travel@mctavish.com 905-337-2228 wwwhookedoncruising.com