We are used to constantly be ”effective” and on a rush. Once in a while perfection is to escape the everyday life, and take your time to enjoy to little things in life. No harm traveling far away of the everyday surroundings and for a week, forget your to-do list. Enjoy company of your closed ones, the sun and the feeling of not having to fulfill any responsibilities at the moment. This was my recent trip to Playa del Carmen in Mexico.

The main purpose of our trip was to escape the everyday life and endless darkness of the winter in Finland, where I come from.

Catch some vitamin D from the sun, just take it easy.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico. One of those places that leaves you want to go back and explore more. Endless white sand beaches, mild wind and palm trees, and laid back attitude comes first in mind when reliving the memories. Delicious fresh guacamole and colorful fresh fruit, of course.

Playa del Carmen was perfect for relaxing and taking it easy.

However, as my family is as active as I am, we wanted to get out of the resort as well. Chichen Itza, one of the new seven world wonders, was a must see. The Chichen Itza is a Mayan City on the Yucatan Peninsula, between Valladolid and Merida. It was established before the period of Christopher Columbus and served as the religious center of Yucatan for a while. Loving history, I found it fascinating to explore this ancient Mayan village and learn more of this mystic and intelligent tribe.

On our way to Chichen Itza, we made a swim stop at a cenote. The cenote was huge, 130 deep feet.  It was amazingly refreshing to hop to fresh and clear water after a sweaty drive.

On our way back we drove through an atmospheric town with colorful building and happy people on the streets. This was the authentic kind of Mexico which I definitely want to explore more. Next time, I will pack my pack back and discover the authentic Mexican villages and people.

This time – I found my inner peace from relaxing on the beach.

The cold dark fall is here in Sweden, and I figured it was a great time to look back to some of my travels and write about the trips I’ve been the past year. I’ve visited 11 countries on three different continents the past year, and it’s probably about the time to share more of my travel stories, don’t you think?

On a boat! In the Sea of Cortez in Mexico

One of my favorite memories from last year was my trip to Mexico and a day of snorkeling with sea lions and swimming in the Sea of Cortez and my favorite: just cruising around in a boat watching the clear blue water. I visited Mexico on the last days of summer last year as a guest of Tourism Board of Mexico on a trip organized by Ogilvy PR. We stayed in La Paz and took a day trip to Isla Espiritu Santo area, north of the Bay of La Paz with Fun Baja Tours.

We gathered in the CostaBaja Resort & Marina in La Paz on the morning and met with our travel guide and a boat captain from Fun Baja Tours and got to pick out snorkeling gear before stepping into the tourist guide boat. I spent my childhood summers on a boat, but I’ve never really done many tourist boat trips, so I didn’t really know what to expect, and well, quite honesty it felt pretty.. touristy at first. (No the picture below isn’t our boat, it was much bigger!)

As we passed the marina and I saw the yachts.. I started feeling like I was home. 30 minutes later I was almost teary-eyed because I had had no idea how much I had missed being on water. My husband doesn’t like small boats/being on water, and we have been avoiding them for 10 years, and once I was on that tourist boat in Mexico, I realized that I had to figure out a way to spend more time on boats, even if my husband doesn’t want to do it with me.

As I was sitting on the rear of the boat watching the waves it transported me to memories of me being a teenager and watching the waves of my parents boat, and watching the open sea and hoping sail that sea to the other end and see the world. While I wasn’t quite on the other end of the world, Mexico IS pretty far from Finland, and I couldn’t believe how much I had done in 20 years. On the tourist boat in Mexico.. I realized what an amazing journey I had had, and that whatever I had dreamed on all of those long teenage summer days watching the waves had come true even better than I ever could have imagined.

Isla Espiritu Santo in the Sea of Cortez

The area of Isla Espiritu Santo is located in the Sea of Cortez, and it’s about 31 square miles large area. It is a National Reserve protected under UNESCO, and the landscape is pretty unique with these majestic red rocky islands. The Sea of Cortez is home to more than 25 species of marine mammals like dolphins, hundreds of species of fish, and is the breeding grounds for colonies of sea lions and several types of turtles. We were heading out to snorkel with sea lions in the Los Islotes islands group. Los Islotes is located at the northern end of the Espiritu Santos islands, and it’s a home for California sea lions, unique to the area.

We could hear and smell the sea lions before we were able to spot them from the rocky island. The sea lions made this sound that was a little bit like deeper sounding dog barking. The island was covered with sea lions, and some of them were huge!! Their marine mammal smell in the hot air made me feel sick at first, but once you get used to it, even I jumped into the water to swim closer. Quite truthfully the large animals scared me, but I loved the water and swimming in the clear blue water, and I was hoping my family had been there with me to experience it.

Stay tuned for more travel stories… and subscribe our travel newsfeed going out once a week. If you are fun heading the the Travel + Leisure Global Bazaar in NYC this weekend, make sure to check out the Tourism Board of Mexico and what they tell about Mexico there as well.

Disclosure: My trip to Mexico was organized by Ogilvy PR and the Tourism Board of Mexico. The flights, hotel stay and all of the excursions were provided by them. My opinions of the trip are my own and this post is not paid for.

It’s probably no surprise to you that I like the Disney Cruise Line from the amount of posting I do about the cruises. It’s the only cruise line I’ve ever been to in the US waters and the ones I’ve been in Europe don’t come even close to pair up, and I highly recommend experiencing with your family at least once in a lifetime. If you are new to Disney Cruise Line, read the other posts I’ve written about them to get more overall information, and even if you have sailed with them before — read these tempting new itineraries from the US for 2013!

Disney Cruise Line News for 2013

Two big things: huge expanded cruise offerings in Europe in the Mediterranean Sea, including new ports of call like Venice and a new second home port in Florida: Miami, departing to Caribbean. Let’s check out the ones in the US first!

Highlights of the US sailings in 2013

From Miami to Caribbean:
Disney Cruise Line will sail from Miami for the first time on Dec. 23, 2012 and they’ll offer several different types of cruises, from 3 to 7 nights. Ports of call include Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman; Key West; Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay on Disney Wonder or Disney Magic, rates starting at $609 per person for three-night cruises, $500 per person for four-night cruises and $575 for five-night cruises from Miami for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

WHY THIS IS COOL: Lots of great new ports to visit and new variety and from Miami for the first time.

From Galveston, Texas, to Western Caribbean:
6-8-night cruises from Galveston will continue through 2013 with rates starting at $750 per person for six-night cruises, $840 per person for seven-night cruises and $920 per person for eight-night cruises departing from Galveston for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy. The 8-night cruise will visit Key West, Grand Cayman, Costa Maya and Cozumel.

WHY THESE CRUISES ARE COOL: If you live in or close to Texas, you’ll save on not flying anywhere to catch the cruise, and the ports sound amazing.

Vancouver to Alaska:
Beginning May 27, 2013, the Disney Wonder will sail seven-night cruises from Vancouver to Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska, where Disney will offer exclusive-to-Disney family-friendly Port Adventures that allow guests to best experience Alaska’s natural beauty and rich history. Rates for seven-night Alaska cruises departing from Vancouver start at $1,015 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

ALASKA! Do I have to say more? More pricey, especially when you include airfare, but an experience of a lifetime for sure. I would also combine with a city trip to Vancouver and get “two vacations” at once.

From Port Canaveral, Florida to Caribbean and Bahamas:
The two newest Disney Cruise Line’s ships Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream will continue to sail a variety of Caribbean and Bahamian itineraries departing from Port Canaveral, Florida.

The Disney Fantasy will sail out of Port Canaveral on seven-night Caribbean itineraries – alternating eastern (St. Maarten and St. Thomas) and western (Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Cozumel). Special Eastern Caribbean sailings, January through April 2013, stop also at San Juan, Puerto Rico. All Disney Fantasy itineraries include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

The Disney Dream will sail three-, four- and five-night cruises from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

Rates for seven-night Caribbean cruises on the Disney Fantasy start at $1,085 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy. Rates for three- and four-night Bahamian cruises on the Disney Dream start at $450 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

WHY THESE ARE GREAT CRUISES: The Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy are the two newest cruise ships in the Disney Cruise Line’s fleet, and they are absolutely stunning – more luxurious, more magical, more options what to do and experience. The ships are worth experiencing, and if you are looking for a low key cruise with a beach vacation, Castaway Cay is Disney’s private island where it’s never too crowded, always clean and you will experience the same customer service as on the ship. Plus, you can’t beat the prices, and you can combine it with a trip to Orlando only 1,5 hours away, and visit DisneyWorld on the same trip!

For more information and prices and booking, go to Disney Cruise Line.

$5 Flights in Costa Rica

Costa Rican Nature Air airline is giving you a reason to book your trip to Costa Rica for June now. On Cinco de Mayo, 5th of May, 2012, Nature Air offers five dollar flights for travel during the month of June 2012 and recommends the top 5 spots of Costa Rica. Travelers can book a domestic flight to any of Nature Air’s 13 Costa Rican destinations from May 5 to May 10, 2012 for $5 (plus applicable fuel surcharge and airport service fees). The promo code for the $5 flights will be posted on Nature Air’s website, on Friday, May 4, 2012.

“Bargain price aside, when travelers choose to fly with Nature Air they get to experience the country’s beauty from a whole new vantage point, optimize their travel time and take advantage of our in-depth knowledge of the country. We can point out all the secret spots for any traveler’s ultimate adventure, romantic getaway or back to nature experience,” says Claire Saylor, director of marketing for Nature Air.

Nature Air is based out of San José, Costa Rica and is the world’s first certified carbon neutral airline. With 74 daily flights to 15 destinations in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama, the company’s mission is to offer reliable, innovative and fun flights throughout Central America while helping maintain the beauty of Costa Rica in its natural state through sustainable policies, projects and initiatives. I’m especially interested in the eco-tourism options available in Costa Rica, and how much they are working to create sustainable solutions in tourism industry. You can read more about Costa Rica, including about the sustainability programs they have at Visit Costa Rica.

Top 5 Destinations in Costa Rica

Nature Air recommends these five destinations in Costa Rica to sample the diversity of Costa Rica.

1. Liberia: The provincial capital of Guanacaste and the gateway to the northern Pacific beaches and tropical eco-systems of Santa Rosa and Rincón de la Vieja National Parks. The region’s idyllic beaches, active volcanoes and wildlife reserves offer superb sightseeing, diving, hiking, sport fishing, world class surf and coastal golf courses.

2. Puerto Jiménez: A remote coastal village recently rediscovered by adventurers and conservationists, Puerto Jimenez is one of the few towns of significance on the Osa Peninsula and a jump-off point to visit the Corcovado National Park. It has typically been the staging ground for adventures deep into the wild; Costa Rica’s most breathtaking scenery and most abundant wildlife thrive on the Osa Peninsula including five species of cats – the jaguar, puma, ocelot, jaguarondi and margay.

3. Manuel Antonio: One of the most beloved destinations in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio’s powdery white beaches run directly into thick rainforest brimming with wildlife – sloths, macaws and four species of monkeys rule the rainforest canopy. The forested ridge leading to the tiny town center offers 360 degree views of beach, jungle and the shimmering Pacific Ocean dotted with rocky islets and secluded bays.

4. Tamarindo: Once a quaint fishing village, Tamarindo has blossomed into a cosmopolitan beach town with a variety of outdoor activities and nightlife attractions. The town is unique in Costa Rica for its gourmet restaurants offering international cuisine, boutique shops and hotels, and a thriving community of international artists, developers, surfers and locals. Tamarindo is a town for those that play hard by day and play harder by night.

6. San José: The capital of the Republic of Costa Rica is known for its theatre, performing arts and art galleries. In addition, San José has great hotels, a lively nightlife, and an array of excellent restaurants. But, the real beauty of the city is its location – in less than 30 minutes, visitors can be on a coffee plantation tour, at the base of an active volcano, white water rafting, bungee jumping or enjoying a museum or cultural performance.

I visited the Hotel California in Todos Santos, Mexico, in August.

I was invited as a guest of the Mexican Tourism Board, and it was my first trip to Mexico, but it won’t be the last. I will also share many more details of our trip to Mexico in the upcoming weeks, but today I wanted to feature Hotel California, it was one of my favorite spots during the trip. You can read more how Hotel California is a great place to spot Mexican interior design inspiration and see several more pictures of the hotel.

History of Hotel California

Visiting Hotel California was one of many highlights of the trip. It’s located in town of Todos Santos in the Southern Baja California Sur. Todos Santos, meaning “All Saints,” is officially designated a Pueblo Magico (Magic Town) by the Mexican Tourism Secretary and the town has authentic colonial architecture and cobblestone streets. The hotel has vibrant history and a great story and we where showed the hotel around and heard this and many other stories of the hotel. The people working in the hotel are incredibly nice and welcoming, and I wish I can return soon.

Hotel California was already founded in 1947 by a Chinese immigrant Mr. Wong, who wanted the locals to believe he was Mexican so he changed his name to Don Antonio Tabasco. It didn’t work as well as he had planned since he soon became known as “El Chino,” meaning “The Chinese Man”. Don Antonio Tabasco became very popular in town despite being the Chinese Man, he was the first one starting to buy ice in 1950 and serving the first cold beer in town, and not surprisingly, became very popular after that. Continuing the success and being a visionary in town, he started a general store “”La Popular” and then the first gas station in town.

During the Hippie years between the 1960s and 1970s, people were growing their own marijuana in the extremely fertile land of the Todos Santos area and perhaps for this reason the history of the hotel itself is half-forgotten. There is no confirmation if the famous Eagles song is about this Hotel California, but many tend to think so. It is often visited by famous musicians and perhaps they are looking for the same inspiration, which Hotel California most likely will offer them.

A Canadian couple John and Debbie Stewart purchased the hotel in 2001 and did a full renovation and the original 16 rooms were transformed into the eclectic 11 suite hotel, which has won numerous awards for design and décor. The restaurant, La Coronela and bar were added and the original gas station was turned into the tienda Emporio, the hotel’s boutique gallery/bazaar.

Shopping at Emporio in Hotel California

The Emporio bazaar has an eclectic collection of jewelry, trinkets, clothing, home decorating products and Hotel California branded t-shirts and tequila. You will be able to shop a lot of your souvenirs here, and it’s a great shot just to stroll around. Pictures tell more…

Right next to the bazaar and shopping, you will find the hotel restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Dining at the restaurant

La Coronela Restaurant & Bar offers you a fantastic place to dine. The restaurant is run by Belgian executive chef Dany Lamote and the menu focuses on organic locally grown and raised ingredients. The menu has classic Mexican dishes but also dishes like pear and gorgonzola pizza and lamb burger with caramelized onions.

We had fish tacos and chicken enchiladas for lunch, and refreshing margaritas and piña coladas with cinnamon on the top. The region is famous for fruit farms, especially mangos and avocados, and the guacamole and mango margaritas are worth to try at La Coronela!

The restaurant has a nice bar and seating inside, but my favorite was the outdoor dining area with a courtyard with a water fountain. The place was just perfect and even though it was a hot summer day, it stayed surprisingly cool outdoors.

Relaxation & Gorgeous Rooms, Inexpensive Retreat

The restaurant serving delicious Mexican dishes and the shop for unique souvenirs are all worth the visit, but my favorite was being in an environment of rich colors, unique furnishings and art all around. A relaxing pool area for hotel guests only, and several private patios provide an escape.

The hotel is small, only 11 rooms, so you will now you will never be surrounded with large amounts of roaming tourists, but you will have a relaxing stay at Hotel California. Each of the rooms is decorated differently with art, fabulous furniture, bold colors and the beds are equipped with soft 500 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets. They rooms have an access to the many private patios of the hotel. The below one is a picture of a private patio that comes with a hotel room. Pretty nice, huh?

The prices for this luxury vary from $80 per night to $150 per night for the 2 story high penthouse suite. The specialty dinners were all under $25 making it very easy to indulge on a budget, and making Hotel California the perfect spot for luxury for less.

Now, doesn’t this call your name…? I know Hotel California has been calling my name ever since I left Mexico.

Disclosure: My trip to Mexico was provided by Ogilvy and the Tourism Board of Mexico. I was not paid to do this post and all of my opinions are my own.