5 Tips for Driving a Rental Car in Puerto Morelos

Puerto Morelos, Mexico is a tranquil, laid back beach town on the Yucatan Peninsula, and makes the perfect home base for a vacation in the Riviera Maya. Having a rental car in Puerto Morelos is a great decision for most people, since it gives you the freedom to jet off to Cancun or Playa del Carmen for a day whenever you feel like it, or explore the many amazing ruins and natural wonders at your own pace.

Driving a rental car in Puerto Morelos and the surrounding areas isn’t much different from driving in the US – the Yucatan is one of the safest places to drive in the country and the main roads are generally well-maintained. However, there are some tips that travelers should follow when driving a rental car in Puerto Morelos in order to have the best vacation possible.

Tips for rental cars in Puerto Morelos

1. Get CDW/LDW coverage from your credit card company
Collision Damage Waiver/Loss Damage Waiver is a pseudo-insurance policy that covers damage to the rental car itself (which is not covered in the mandatory Liability Insurance). Most major credit cards offer a certain amount of CDW/LDW coverage for free as long as you use it to make the reservation and pay for it. To get it from your credit card, you must decline that coverage from the rental car agency in Puerto Morelos. Car rental companies will offer this protection for an extra fee, but it usually includes a deductible of 10-20% of the vehicle’s replacement cost.

2. Keep a copy of your rental car insurance in the glove box
Always, always, always have a copy of your Mexican Liability Insurance, CDW coverage and your car and health insurance policies from back home, just in case. The most important is the Liability Insurance – if you’re in an accident and can’t prove that you have enough insurance to cover the damages, you could find yourself waiting in a Mexican jail while the police figure out who was at fault and how much coverage you have.

3. Gas stations in Mexico are state-owned
There is only one chain of gas stations in Mexico, Pemex, and the prices are the same everywhere in the country. Be aware that most gas stations will only accept cash, and there may be very few gas stations on some long stretches of highway. For example, the toll road to Chichen Itza has few exits and few gas stations, so plan accordingly.

4. Watch out for potholes on smaller roads
The major and secondary highways in Riviera Maya and the roads in the city of Puerto Morelos are in pretty good shape. But be careful with rural highways, side roads, and pulling off onto shoulders – you might get an unpleasant surprise from a pothole. Potholes are actually the main reason people in Puerto Morelos don’t recommend driving at night.

5. Map your route ahead of time
The Mexican government has an app called Mappir that not only helps you plan a route from Point A to Point B, it will also estimate how much fuel it will take and what the costs of the route are (fuel, tolls, etc.). For example, it Mappir suggests 2 possible routes from Puerto Morelos to Chichen Itza: one has tolls, with a total cost of 697 pesos but only takes 3 hr 45 min; the second has no tolls with a total cost of 424 pesos but takes 4 hr 25 min.

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Chernobyl Zone: Can It Become an Official Tourist Object?

Are you a fan of extreme tours and adventures? Do you wish to get unforgettable memories and emotions that will last for a lifetime? Or, maybe, you have already visited lots of places around the world and wish to see something extraordinary – something that it is impossible to see in everyday life? If you have answered at least one of these questions positively, then a tour to chernobyl zone may be a great solution for you!

Why Are Chernobyl Tours Exciting?

The disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power station that shocked the whole world in 1986 remains the topic of hot discussions by this time. The fact is that even the experts cannot tell for sure what ecological aftereffects triggered by the catastrophe may still be observed in future. This puts several generations of people at risk, even though, it is reported that the most tragic consequences are already in the past.

With that said, it is not easy to explain the desire of thousands of people from different countries of the world to book a chernobyl tour. What’s more, the number of such extreme tourists keeps increasing with every passing year. So, why are the tours to Chernobyl so popular and why do they attract so many people today?

The major reason for the popularity of the exclusion zone is… human curiosity. With so many things that have been said about the disaster and so many movies and books that have become available these days, people have the desire to see the location with their own eyes. They realize that the world around us has changed a lot since 1986, but the Chernobyl zone remains the same. The time seems to have stopped there and this is, probably, the only place in the world, which has preserved the atmosphere of the former USSR. In other words, this place can be compared to the museum under the open air, where each object has historic meaning. No wonder, the tourists traveling to Pripyat and Chernobyl with to "touch" the history and feel that special atmosphere of mystery created by silence, things that have been left in haste, ruined buildings and other suchlike elements.

Can Chernobyl Become an Official Tourist Object?

Chernobyl tours are really in demand nowadays. They are especially popular with young people, who are not afraid to visit the exclusion zone and consider such tours a kind of an exciting adventure. Many of them decide to travel to the location on their own, without any official permission and safety measures. This is a huge mistake, which can trigger unpredictable consequences. The fact is that not all the places in Pripyat and Chernobyl are safe for people because of the increased radiation level. Furthermore, not all the objects in the zone are officially allowed to be visited, which can also pose danger to people, who don’t know that. That is exactly why, tours to chernobyl zone should be organized by professional agencies, like Go2chernobyl.com, which are aware of all the nuances, dangers and special features of the place and can make the trip safe and exciting for everyone.

According to recent statistic data, about 10 thousands of people visit Chernobyl each year and this number keeps growing rapidly. That is why, the government of the country considers it possible to make Chernobyl an official tourist object, thus making it an additional income source. Meanwhile, trips to the exclusion zone organized by professional tourist agencies keep gaining popularity.

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Students Trips to D.C. Include a Visit to Holocaust Museum: Conversations with Holocaust Survivors

Student tours of Washington D.C. often include a visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. A visit to the Museum can be an eye opening experience for students of this generation, who did not live through the war, and were not raised by parents that fought or participated in World War II.

Many of the popular Hollywood films about the holocaust focus on the experience of the Jewish population in Germany. However, the Jewish population throughout Europe was deeply affected by anti-Semitism and genocide. As the war progressed, the Nazis came to invade many different European countries and round up Jewish people for extermination at the camps in Germany.

The First Person Podcast Series by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum is a wonderful resource for teachers who want to introduce students to the individual stories of holocaust survivors. It is also a great way to prepare them for a class trip to Washington D.C. that includes a stop to at the Museum on the itinerary.

Visit the U.S.Holocaust Memorial Museum and select the menu ‘Survivors and Victims.’ Page down and peruse the selections of audio podcasts available for online listening.

Genocide of the Jewish Population in Europe in the 1940s
These first person accounts of war and its consequences to families and whole populations will be an awakening for many students. Students may be familiar with the major battles of World War II and the politics of the war. However these personal accounts of intimidation, fear and hiding. Jewish people had to disguise their true identities and survive in a small amount of space – or go from house to house. Separation of husbands and wives and mothers and children was all too common.

These stories will leave students spellbound - and should be digested slowly. Post -listening exercises are recommended so students can fully integrate. A visit to the Museum will also assist in learning more.

The Nazi Resistance in Europe
There are also important details about those who courageously resisted Nazi control and aided those who were fleeing. Many of these allies were non-Jewish and taking a huge chance by hiding those who were. Listening to these Survivor Stories adds a whole new dimension to students’ knowledge and learning about the holocaust of World War II.

Each story has its own unique description of the challenge of a Jewish adult or child leaving war torn Europe. With the German army crossing through many war torn territories, this is quite a challenge and took a great deal of courage for the many who aided those who sought refuge elsewhere.

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising: Nazi’s Stalled
One highlight of the First Person Podcast Series includes the story of Estelle Laughlin: The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. In Poland, some of the fiercest resistance to a Nazi takeover came from an ill supplied but prepared group of urban fighters. The resistance movement in the Warsaw Ghettos helped families to build secret bunkers before the Germans arrived. While war raged in the streets of
Warsaw families hid in bunkers to survive. This actually saved quite a few families, who were spirited away during lulls in this urban war. Laughlin’s story of resistance and escape is compelling, mostly because she was only a child.

Romania: Hiding from a Pogrom in Iasi
Heim Solomon’s story explains what the word ‘Pogrom’ means. After the Germans invaded the Soviet Union on June 21, 1941, The Romanian Jewish population came under the authority of the Germans. The Nazis pressed upon the authorities of Romania to eliminate the Jewish population. The Jewish men of the town were summoned to the City Hall to be reissued new identification. From this room they were escorted into a stone outdoor enclosure. Here German soldiers would either split their heads or shoot them in the temple of he head. Later a garbage truck would clean up the trash. In the July 29th massacre, 4,000 would perish within the perimeter of the stonewall.

This particularly vicious form of genocide was terrifying to the Jewish population. Two of Heim’s brothers scaled the stone wall that night, and hid for 6 days without food or water. They hid themselves in a space above wood piled to the ceiling. Many more were lined up and sent by train and because it was so hot, one half of those who traveled died from lack of water. Solomon’s family was scattered during the roundup and after the Pogrom calmed down, in 4-5 days, they reorganized from their hiding. His scathing account of the inhumane treatment of the Nazi’s is not easy to listen to, however it gives a perspective not often recorded in history books.

Teachers may have to face hard subjects with students and will find creative ways to help them understand materials.

Resistance to fascism, survival in a hostile environment, and the ability to live in secrecy are just a few of the characteristics many survivors share. Students will learn about the struggles and turmoil of separating from family –immediate and extended. Most of all students will learn about the bravery of survivors and those who helped them.

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Tips for Finding Summer Activities for Kids | AGT The Safe Money People

We all know they’re coming . . . the dog days of summer. As parents or grandparents, we love having the kiddos home and the absence of the daily grind of the bus, lunch-making and homework, but with every upside, there is a downside. And for kids in the summer, it’s boredom!

For this reason, parents spend a good amount of time searching and registering their kids for activities to keep them engaged and out of trouble. With so many options available, where do you start? Where do you find activities that are of interest to your kids, while also being kind to your wallet?

A good place to start is online. There are some great parent resources available that provide parents the opportunity to search different activities — all relevant to your child.
For instance, ACTIVEkids.com is an easy-to-use website for parents to discover and register kids for activities, classes and camps. ACTIVEkids enables parents to find a broad spectrum of activities from art seminars to dance classes to local summer camps — search by gender, age and interests to find activities that are the most relevant to parent and child. It has a database of more than 120,000 activities nationwide and serves kids ages four to 18.

Another option is the local YMCA. If you’re not familiar with the YMCA in your area, we suggest you check it out. It’s a great family organization for kids and adults of all ages. Their programs focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Many local locations offer health and fitness programs that help children (and adults) to increase energy, decrease stress, prevent illness, maintain a healthy lifestyle and just enjoy quality time with family and friends.
The Y offers a number of different summer programs that promote positive self-esteem, good decision making and self-help and care. There are likely to be one or two great options for your child.

The recreation department in your town is another great place to look for activities — and they are usually very affordable. Most towns offer programs from tennis and swim lessons to painting and music classes. The programs are usually run by local experts and are located right in town. Plus, if you coordinate with some friends, you might be able to catch a morning break that can be enjoyed and filled with some "you" time.

Wherever you go to find fun, engaging activities for your kids, just make sure you remember to carve out some simple, relaxing family time, too. The summers fly by much faster than the school year.

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Student Trips to NYC: Try a Behind-the-Scenes Workshop About Broadway Acting, Singing and Staging

Theater arts, dance and music students are fascinated with Broadway Theater in New York City. Many take class trips to New York City to experience the theater district, take in a Broadway Musical or two, and eat in New York City restaurants and delicatessens. How many student groups on a NYC tour have also considered a Broadway Workshop? These workshops are designed to enhance acting skills and help students develop a greater understanding of one of the highest and most demanding levels achieved in the acting profession – Broadway acting.

Not too long ago, High School Musical was all the rage for students with acting aspirations. Once it was Wicked and The Lion King, drawing large audiences. Now it is Hamilton that is hot - and tickets hard to obtain. Behind the scenes Broadway Workshops keep up with what is trending on Broadway in some fun and extraordinary ways. The workshops are applicable to theater arts and inspire students to probe deeper into Broadway Musicals. At the same time these learning experiences show the hard and constant daily effort that goes into making sure all parts of the Broadway show work in concert.

Many trip leaders opt for the Broadway Rehearsal or Choir Workshop. The score from the musical the student group will attend is used, making the experience of seeing a Broadway musical more familiar. Students learn about choreography, staging and music from a cast member and a musical director. Choir Workshops focus on learning the vocal score of the musical.

There are other workshops to engage the young actor or actress, including a useful one for every aspiring actor – The Audition Workshop. Then there’s the Improv Workshop, Stage Combat and the Make Up Workshop for students who want to jump right into the action.

For teachers who want student groups to meet real Broadway Actors, Meet the Artist Q & A will be an excellent workshop to do so. Students meet the Broadway actor or actress in a rehearsal studio. Here the group can ask questions about life on Broadway in a private session with the artist, at a show which they may attend later. This is a great way for students to gain insights about life in New York City and the day-to-day demands and scheduling of a Broadway actor or actress.

For the student who already knows how hectic it can be backstage, the Broadway Quick Change workshop may be a great way to learn some tips from the experts. Student tour groups will see how the professionals change costumes quickly and effortlessly. A real Broadway actor will demonstrate a quick change and students will be invited to try it. Students will learn the importance of this skill for the acting profession - where space is often tight and several actors must change in a short period.

As mentioned earlier, Hamilton is now the hit Broadway Musical most theater art students will be familiar with already. The star of the show is loosely based on the historical Alexander Hamilton, a Cuban orphan who came to New York City penniless and emerged as a top writer and revolutionary of his day. The story is told in hip-hop style so students can relate if this is their preference in music. Trip leaders can either select a Hamilton Meet the Artist workshop, where students meet a real actor in his or her rehearsal studio, or the Hamilton Dance workshop, where students are introduced to the choreography behind Hamilton.

As a whole, participating in one or several Broadway Workshops is an active learning experience students will remember for some time. For more information on booking class trip to New York City that includes a Broadway Musical and participating in a workshop, visit http://www.educationaltravelconsultants.com.

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Diving With Sharks In The Bahamas

Have you ever swam with sharks in the Bahamas? Imagine your first ever shark encounter is set in Bimini, only having known the terrifying creatures of the sea through movies and TV shows. You cruise on a speedboat through the soft waves of the Caribbean Sea, leaving behind the comforts of the land. When you arrive to your destination in the middle of the ocean, you watch as your peers jump into the water one by one, leaving you behind, last man standing. You stand on the edge of the boat, look down below the crystal clear waters, and see a frenzy of sharks swarming the waters. With eyes closed, you take one deep breath and jump in… only to notice last second that you’re falling directly on top of a shark. But unlike the movies and TV shows that portray the creatures as unforgivingly ferocious, the shark is just as scared as you and swims away as fast as it can.

Now imagine that after an experience like that, you fall in love with the creatures so much that you leave your office job behind and decide to work with the exact excursion agency that gave you your first shark encounter. That’s exactly the story of Pablo Aviles, Sales Manager of Bimini Undersea. We had the pleasure of speaking with him and learning about the sharks that inhabit the waters of Bimini, and the various ways that they can be explored with Bimini Undersea, the excursion agency of Resorts World Bimini.

"Sharks are commonly known as monsters of the sea", Pablo exclaims, "I once thought the same." People are simultaneously fascinated and fearful, craving knowledge on the creatures yet hoping to never cross paths with one in the wild. Movies like Jaws, Sharknado, Deep Blue Sea, Open Water and countless more portray the fish as horrific, life threatening creatures. Shark Week, airing this entire week, is an annual shark-based program with a strong cult following. Every year’s program brings in record-breaking millions of viewers, giving people a mesmerizing glimpse into the lives of these mysterious creatures. And while sharks definitely do portray a potential threat to swimmers, Pablo is confident that "Bimini Undersea aims to show a different side to the creatures, you’ll have a better understanding of them once completing one of our excursions."

No matter whether you’re an experienced scuba diver or a beginning swimmer, Pablo ensures you’ll be able to participate in the various excursions offered by Bimini Undersea. The agency offers three different Shark Encounters, based on your level of experience. These Shark Encounter excursions are set within the beautiful blue waters of Bimini, no cages and no barriers. Swim with sharks in their natural habitat and get an up close view that rivals any Shark Week program or thriller movie.

Not so confident in your swimming skills? Start off with level 1, "you’ll receive a life vest and be able to float without thinking" as you snorkel with black tipped reef sharks in 25 feet deep water. Feeling a little more risky? If you’re scuba certified, venture with level 2, where you’ll be able to swim with sharks and even experience a photographed feeding session. For those who want the ultimate rush, level 3 is a unique experience only offered during the winter months. You’ll be transported to the famous shark-filled area of Bimini, Triangle Rocks, where you’ll dive deep below the surface and freely swim with Great Hammerhead Sharks. This once in a lifetime opportunity also features a photographed feeding session with the magnificent creatures.

365 days a year, those diving in Bimini can come across Black Tip Reef Sharks, Lemon Sharks, Nurse Sharks, Bull Sharks, Great Hammerhead Sharks, and the occasional Tiger Sharks. Bimini is a true haven for sharks, not just because of its perfect climate, but also because of its preservation measures. "For years, shark fishing has been outlawed in the Bahamas, so this area is a sanctuary for sharks to reproduce and thrive." When asked if the sharks in these excursions pose any true threat to visitors, Pablo confidently replies, "Sharks are biologically afraid of people. It would rather eat something smaller before it would ever bite you." Pablo goes on debunk the common misconception about sharks being the most dangerous, terrifying creatures. He ensures that Bimini Undersea educates visitors before all excursions. As long as you don’t harass the sharks in any way and let them be in their natural habitat, you should be free from worry.

When you look at the facts versus the fabricated tales, sharks deserve more respect as magnificent creatures of the sea. Sure, they can be dangerous. But they don’t always have to be. Oftentimes humans are labeled as victims against sharks, but the reality of the matter shows the opposite. 100 million sharks are killed per year by humans, while no more than 10 people worldwide are killed by sharks annually. Bimini Undersea gives visitors a chance to see sharks in a light they’ve never seen before. Pablo is one of many members of the excursion agency who are passionate about the creatures and who wish to shed some of the fear that people have and replace it with pure fascination.

Make your own Shark Encounter story by diving with sharks in the Bahamas with Bimini Undersea.

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True Flavour of Thailand For Families At the Dhara Dhevi by Bacall Associates Travel Singapore

The iconic The Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai, situated on a peaceful 60-acre estate in Northern Thailand, offers a magical backdrop in which children and adults alike can absorb Thai culture with a fantastic range of experiences, guaranteeing lasting memories for the whole family.

This fantastical resort, conceived as an ancient walled city, offers a sense of place like few others and this is reflected in its carefully curated activities, designed to immerse guests of all ages into local culture. Perfect for all the family, from little ones to adults, the resort’s Art and Craft Village offers an array of creative craft activities, from umbrella painting and paper making to bamboo weaving, which is led by a group of local village women who will help guests create beautiful artefacts and traditional toys from the plant’s leaves.

Housed in the same building, The Lanna Kids Club is open every day from 9am-5pm and offers half or full day programmes for children from 4 to 12 years old. The building’s tiny resident petting ponies and llamas are sure to make a great ice breaker for children who can then choose from a varied range of activities to stretch and stimulate them mentally and physically, whilst offering an insight into traditional Lanna (the ancient kingdom of northern Thailand) and Thai culture. Classes include Thai dancing and music and traditional Thai games and toys – children can also benefit for Thailand’s rich culture of wellness with mini Thai kick boxing classes and yoga for kids.

A must-try for visitors of all ages is the rice planting: donning a traditional protective tunic, the instantly recognisable Non La hat and waterproof socks, the session will teach budding rice farmers how the grain is grown from seed to harvest and includes the opportunity for all to wade into the squidgy warm mud and plant a few rows for themselves. Children will adore riding the water buffalo, which will obligingly walk little ones through the plantation.

Meanwhile adults can enjoy the Dhara Dhevi Cooking Academy, which stages daily Thai cooking classes, relax in the Jum Sri Hall Library, with one of its 5,000+ books, browse the 20 boutiques in Kad Dhara Shopping Village, or unwind and reboot at the Health and Fitness Centre and legendary Dheva Spa where in depth Ayurveda-based programmes are carried out in 11 spacious treatments suites.

Parents keen to make the most of the wide array of gourmet eating and drinking options at the resort can book the baby-sitting service, which is available on request. All tastes and nationalities are catered for with international cuisines of the highest calibre, from Japanese dishes at the light and airy Ren; Chinese at Fujian, formal French at Farang Ses and contemporary international cuisine at the Akaligo, which offers views through wall to ceiling windows. There is even a Victorian Style tea salon, the Dhara Dhevi Cake Shop which caters to the sweet toothed serving decadent treats. Fabulously chic watering holes include the louche Horn Bar, an after dark cocktail bar, the al fresco Loy Kham Bar which overlooks the serene infinity pool and the Colonial Pool Bar, which centers around the heart of the resort, the spectacular and imposing blue and white tiled swimming pool.

Easily accessible via a 15-minute car transfer from Chiang Mai International Airport, the Dhara Dhevi makes for an immersive cultural experience perfect for crafting lasting family memories.

ABOUT THE DHARA DHEVI:

The Dhara Dhevi is one of Asia’s foremost luxury hotels. More an experience than simply a hotel, this iconic property represents extravagant Thai luxury at its finest. Nestling in 60 acres of beautifully landscaped tropical grounds, enjoying a picturesque and secluded setting in the countryside in the North, the resort has established itself as a classic ‘must visit’ for high end travellers to Thailand. Its location on the outskirts of historic Chiang Mai, a walled ancient city known for its rich history of art and culture, is reflected throughout the resort. The spectacular accommodation was built in keeping with traditional Lanna and colonial style architecture, set among lush paddy fields. 69 traditional Thai villas each boast a private swimming, or plunge pools, Jacuzzi tubs and separate showers. 54 Colonial Suites featuring separate living and bedroom areas with private terraces overlook the pool, lake or stunning verdant gardens.

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