ELAN RESORT
& SPA -- CANCUN is scheduled to open on March 1 after
a $15 million refurbishment of the former Club Las Velas, which
closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma. Under new management,
the new Elan will be marketed as a "sophisticated and authentically
Mexican" resort, designed by Mexican architect Tomas Aunon to
resemble a 17th century Mexican village. The all-inclusive resort
will feature 95 rooms and 51 one- to three-bedroom villas as well
as six restaurants, three bars, two private beach areas, two
swimming pools, tennis courts and a spa and fitness center. Rooms
will feature Wi-Fi Internet access, king or queen beds with
400-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets and cable TV. Villas will
have a second TV, unlimited wine and beer in the refrigerator and a
cappuccino maker. Room rates will start at $300 a night from March
1 to April 7, while prices for villas will start at $450. For
information or reservations, call (888) 400-ELAN. A Web site at www.elanresort.com is under construction.
THE VILLA
GROUP in Cabo San Lucas, which owns and operates Villa La
Estancia, Villa del Arco and Villa del Palmar, said it will open
Cabo's largest spa this summer: The Spa on El Medano Beach, a
three-level, 31,000-square-foot facility. Currently in the final
stages of construction, the spa will be a major selling point for
the Villa Group's three Cabo properties. Designed to resemble a
Mexican hacienda, the spa will feature 17 treatment rooms; two VIP
suites with private Jacuzzi and shower; several hydrotherapy areas
with plunge pools, Jacuzzis, steam rooms and saunas; a beauty salon
and a 4,500-square-foot fitness center. The Villa Group's three
Cabo San Lucas properties offer a combined 845 one- to
three-bedroom villas, studios and penthouse suites.
HAVE PASSPORT,
WILL TRAVEL
" Funjet Vacations said
it will reimburse customers the fee for new or renewed passports,
up to $60, in conjunction with its packages to Mexico. To qualify,
passports must have been issued on or after Jan. 23, and travel
must be completed within 60 days of the booking. To get reimbursed,
customers must download a form at www.funjet.com/passport and mail it with a copy of the
passport receipt to: Funjet Vacations Marketing, c/o Molly Witte,
897 N. Port Washington Road, Milwaukee, WI 53217. Forms must be
submitted within two weeks of completing the Funjet trip.
" Another passport
promotion is in effect at the W Mexico City, which will credit
customers for the cost of their taxi ride from Mexico City Airport
to the hotel, up to $30 per room, through Feb. 28. The promotion is
part of a wider W Hotels Worldwide program. To qualify for the taxi
promotion in Mexico City, customers must have new-issue passports
and show that Mexico City is the first port of entry in Mexico.
Customers must stay a minimum of three nights at the W Mexico City
and present a receipt from an "authorized taxi supplier," such as
Protaxi or Sitio 700. Guests also receive a complimentary tequila
martini.
VOLARIS, one of Mexico's discount airlines,
said it planned to add a dozen new routes this year and would serve
14 Mexican cities by the end of 2007, including Merida and Los
Cabos. Last December, Volaris said it planned to add eight new
Airbus planes to its fleet this year for a total of 14 planes
operating in Mexico by the end of October. Volaris said it had no
plans to expand outside of Mexico in 2007.
Mexico E-Letter
Editor: Jorge Sidron
Phone:
(973) 898-0011
[email protected]
For promotional
opportunities in the E-letters, contact [email protected].