Tuesday 19 March 2013

January and Madrid

Off I went to attend the F.I.T.U.R Travel Market.

Beautiful Madrid, always freezing in January was a sizzling 17 degrees and there I was head to foot in my fake Leopard Skin! I had coats, wraps, hats, gloves – you name it!

So much so that I was over laden on the bus to the Convention Centre so someone very inconveniently stole my wallet from my handbag hanging fastened over my shoulder at the time! (May I add that this has NEVER happened to me in Mexico in 32 years!! Sorry, but could not resist that comment)!

F.I.T.U.R is a well organised event – The Mexican stand is huge. I was lucky enough to meet our new Minister of Tourism La Dama Claudia Ruiz. I wish her every success and look forward to meeting her at TIANGUIS (more on this later)…

After an exhausting day I dragged myself over to Paradise! Yes Paradise. I was staying at The MELIA CASTILLA. I was on the Executive floor in the most wonderful suite. Private check in, breakfast, snacks, tapas, pastries available all day and every day. Believe me, I was in Heaven and Home! www.melia.com

Madrid is one of my favourite places and this is one of my favourite Hotels.

Dinner at another of my favourite places Casa Lucio and a big kiss for Lucio although his son did not recognise me! www.casalucio.es On to Café Chintas, wonderful flamenco www.chinitas.com

Lunch next day at LA BOLA and this rounded off my total “fix” of wonderful Madrid food. www.labola.es

Caught up with;

BEL AIR COLLECTION

QUINTA REAL (WAS CAMINO REAL) www.quintareal.com

MY GOOD FRIENDS AT NATURE TRAILS

MAYALAND - www.mayaland.com

(more on this later)

All my buddies from Aeromexico

Flew back on AIR EUROPA (Great service) Good Airline. They also fly to Cuba (more on this later)

MARCH AND COLLETTS TRAVEL

I attended this marvellous Travel Exhibition for this amazing Agency (Anna put link in please) at Lords Cricket Ground. What a super venue, super food wine and champagne, great ambiance. Watch this space for the date of this Fair for next year!

We were lucky enough to be on the ONE & ONLY stand, promoting their property in Los Cabos.

Now I am off to TIANGUIS, the piece de resistance! This is MY Travel Market and I am going to enjoy every moment of it starting with;

My journey will be with KLM…I simply adore this solid, reliable comfortable Airline… I travelled with them last year so am really looking forward to the pleasant experience…again…..In this day and age it is not often a Traveller actually looks forward to an air journey with all the hassle it entails…..…

The connection over Amsterdam is completely seamless. and if anyone out there knows me then they know I am a “Super Shopper” so where better to do it than in Amsterdam Airport.!!! When I return I will be preparing a complete package of Fares and Promotional offers and opportunities available on KLM so watch this space please.

This year the Fayre is to be held in PUEBLA. Words cannot do justice to this exquisite City. A four hour drive from Mexico City and magical once there. We work here with the gorgeous boutique property Mesones Sa Cristia where we are lucky enough to have the super Director Elisa Ramirez, who works extremely hard.

I will be looking at a new Hotel we are starting to work with.“Hotel Grand”, I think we helped Mesones Sa Cristia on to the UK Tourist Industry Map so I am hoping that we can do the same with their new property and also with The Hotel Grand.

I will probably drive to Oaxaca from Puebla as there is a direct road and I am also hoping to visit my wonderful Acapulco, Las Brisas and Fairmont and perhaps get to Cuernavaca and the wonderful Hacienda de Cortes.

KLM arrives into Mexico City at 1930 hrs. I will be met by our Ground Operators “FIRST CLASS”. By either one of my good friends Mauricio, Sergio or Ramon and taken to my hotel which is the old and exceptionally beautiful Boutique Hotel De Cortes.

One of the earliest hostelries in the Americas, it has been transformed into a modern Boutique hotel located on the main entrance of Historic Downtown. This jewel of the Mexican baroque comprises 28 rooms and suites, exquisitely decorated and furnished. The historical and cultural elements combine with modern comforts and a passion for service to ensure complete guest satisfaction.

Superb cuisine can be found in the restaurant “1620” and the lounge terrace bar “el Cielo de Cortes”

I will be receiving lots of help from my friend Lupita Ayala who does an amazing job in England at the Mexican Tourist Office. She will be attending TIANGUIS. I think she and I are the hardest working people in England for Mexico! So she will be working her socks off as per usual.

I will tell you all about it when I get back.

Saludos, Besos Cathy