Carefreetrip.com :: Travel Blog

Mystère at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas is classic Cirque du Soleil, combining the powerful athleticism, high-energy acrobatics and inspiring imagery that has become the company’s hallmark. The unusual creatures in a magical world keep your senses buzzing from the start as they perform traditional circus acts Cirque du Soleil style. What really sets this show apart is the magical combination of color, humor and audience involvement.

Before the show even begins, the audience is treated to a wonderful interaction with a clown who wonders throughout the audience showing people to their wrong seats and provides a masterful use of prop humor provided by the audience (like popcorn). This is a hint to everyone who goes to the show - do not give the clown your popcorn. This wonderful interaction continues throughout the show.

Mystère invites you into a wonderful world with the beat of a Japanese Taiko Drum. These amazing perfomers show strength, agility, skill and flexability at the highest level. Some of the acts include the Aerial Cube, the Korean Plank, Chinese Poles (amazing strength and power), and a hand-to-hand routine by two brothers that is incredible! There is also a baby (clown), played wonderfully, that keeps the crowd guessing where she will turn up next.

The music, performed by a live band, energizes the show from the start. It provides an exotic tone to an acoustically rich theater. Then there is the color - brilliant is an understatement! The sets, the clothes even the make-up.

Mystère has been honored eight tims as “Best Production Show” by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The Chicago Tribune called Mystère, “one of the most innovative and exciting shows to be seen anywhere”. We agree! Mystère is a must see when in Las Vegas!

Carefreetrip.com gives Mystère out of 5 suitcases. Go see this show!

The U.S. State Department provides these tips when you travel abroad -

• Register so the State Department can better assist you in an emergency: Register your travel plans with the State Department through a free online service here. This will help us contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or if there is a crisis where you are traveling. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts will not be released to others without your express authorization.
• Sign passport, and fill in the emergency information: Make sure you have a signed, valid passport, and a visa, if required, and fill in the emergency information page of your passport.
• Leave copies of itinerary and passport data page: Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with family or friends, so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.
• Check your overseas medical insurance coverage: Ask your medical insurance company if your policy applies overseas, and if it covers emergency expenses such as medical evacuation. If it does not, consider supplemental insurance.
• Familiarize yourself with local conditions and laws: While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. The State Department web site at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html has useful safety and other information about the countries you will visit.
• Take precautions to avoid being a target of crime: To avoid being a target of crime, do not wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money. Also, do not leave unattended luggage in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.
• Contact us in an emergency: Consular personnel at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad and in the U.S. are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens. Contact information for U.S. Embassies and Consulates appears on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov. Also note that the Office of Overseas Citizen Services in the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs may be reached for assistance with emergencies at 1-888-407-4747, if calling from the U.S. or Canada, or 202-501-4444, if calling from overseas.

Le Rêve is the highly anticipated signature show at the all Wynn Las Vegas. Created by internationally acclaimed director Franco Dragone (Celine Dion’s A New Day, ‘O’, Mystere), Le Rêve (French for the dream) takes place in the spectacular aquatic in-the-round dome theater conceptualized by Dragone himself.

The story begins with a man and a women who are parting ways for the evening. The women lays down for bed and begins to have a series of dreams. She becomes the main character that ties all of the torrid, imaginative dreams together.

The performers in this show are amazing - to say the least. They drop from several stories in the air into the pool, they perform very difficult twists and flips, and they perform acrobatics that would make you cringe when they were on dry land let alone wet! The stage and set are amazing as well. As you watch the performers the stage is constantly moving making the water change location and flow. There are several times you don’t realize the stage has moved and they dive right in! The choreography keeps you entertained even when the story (dream) is hard to follow. This show has everything you would expect from a Las Vegas show - acrobatics, special effects and artistry.

This is a great show for those who love water and water acrobatics. The artistry is very entertaining and draws you in to the dreams.

Carefreetrip.com gives Le Rêve out of 5 suitcases.

Looking to have a few laughs in Las Vegas, my wife and I - more me than her - decided to purchase Tickets to Carrot Top’s “Curls Gone Wild” show at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. For those of you who don’t know who Carrot Top is, wikipedia.org provides this synopsis - “Carrot Top, born Scott Thompson, is an American comedian known for his mop of curly red hair, prop comedy, and often self-parodying humor.”

Scott’s, Carrot Top to the rest of us, show is built around 7 very large containers filled with hilarious prop humor, which he is famous for. Some of these props include a picket sign used for the recent writers strike (it was blank), what Delta Airlines slogan should be - Don’t Expect your Luggage To Arrive, or how Whitney Houston was able to sing at her recent concert (her microphone was tied to a bong). Carrot Top is a master in taking recent headlines and turning them into hysterical prop’s. No topic was off limits, including his stint as the At&t spokesman of yester-year. He paces back and forth on the stage pulling one prop after another while incorporating music to cement his delivery.

Carrot Top even got on the crowd for taking his jokes to serious. He kept having to remind them they were at a comedy show not reading the newspaper. He was also masterful at pointing out the idiot who was trying to text message during the show (what a jerk!) and told the folks who left to use the restroom that he would wait while their neighbor caught them up on all the jokes they missed. He even saves you money by showing you scenes from other Las Vegas shows like the Blue Man Group’s blue faces and toilet paper.

If you want to have a great time go see this show! My wife, who was even a little skeptical about going, loved it! This show was worth every dime! Go see this show when you visit Las Vegas! His delivery is incredible, his humor is smart, and he puts a spin on current events that only his warped (compliment) mind can do. I can’t wait to see Carrot Top again - honey can we go back?

Carefreetrip.com gives Carrot Top’s “Curls Gone Wild” out of 5 suitcases!

The other day I came across a great article written by Gretchen Kelly on travelchannel.com. This article addresses how to complain and make it count. Here are the highlights -

1. When you need to complain, do so as soon as possible. It’s best to get the situation rectified on the spot, if possible, rather than having to complain after the fact.

2. Be calm and polite, direct and firm. Like you, airline, hotel, and car rental employees face myriad challenges every day. If you approach them politely and explain your frustration clearly, they are much more likely to be inclined to help you.

3. Understand that airline rules are complicated. Experts often tell travelers to “know the rules” before complaining, but for many airline passengers following that advice would mean never complaining. Your best bet is to know the restrictions associated with your ticket to the extent possible (for example, is it a refundable ticket?), and beyond that to realize that the airline may or may not be required to rectify the situation you face.

4. If you’re getting nowhere, talk to someone else. Sometimes talking to the right person can make all the difference. If you’re not making any progress, get back in line and speak with a different agent, or ask to speak with a manager or station manager.

5. Use your cell phone. The time you spend waiting in a long line of people can double as time on-hold at the call center. You may get through on the phone before you get the front of the physical line.

6. Know what you are complaining about and what you want. It sounds simple, but sometimes people get so frustrated they don’t clearly explain the problem or what they hope to accomplish by complaining. Starting your conversation with those points will give you a better chance of success.

7. Respect security personnel and know current security standards. Showing frustration with security screeners will not help you get to your destination any faster, nor is it likely to change operations at the checkpoint. The best things you can do to help make their jobs easier and your security experience smoother is to know and follow current screening rules, and give yourself plenty of time to get through the line.

8. Your travel department or travel agency is your lifeline. When the hotel doesn’t have the room you reserved; the rental car is the wrong size vehicle; or your flight is cancelled, and the line at the airline counter is so long after that you know you’ll never get on the next one - your travel agency can often help you. Carry the phone number with you and, if there is one, the after-hours number for help in these difficult situations.

Finally, Sam Haigh, President and CEO of Benchmark Hospitality International advises travelers to “always follow up in writing - even if the issue was solved to your satisfaction.”

“This gives the property or airline additional input upon which to follow up with you. Hotels and airlines pay a lot of attention to written comments, good and bad. Include names and other specifics.”

I just got back from a trip to Las Vegas with my wife- we needed a little rest and relaxation from our recent move and our kids. When I booked our travel, I was hoping to fly an airline that provided preboarding, assigned seats and the the flight had to get in before 6:16 PM Las Vegas time to ensure we made our show reservations. I was not very happy when I found out that the only flight from Boise, Idaho to Las Vegas that met our time requirements was offered by Southwest Airlines. Yikes?!

Historically I have always liked their prices, but I have hated (yes I know this is a strong word) their boarding process and how they treated their passengers in-flight. I did enjoy the singing, attempted humor and the scared look on new air passengers faces when the flight attendants would announce “we will be hitting the ground in 10 minutes” instead of something a little less concerning like “we will be landing in 10 minutes.” The old boarding process was nothing more than a weak attempt at a cattle drive using letters to designate which herd you belonged to. It also drove me crazy that you had to get to your flight 3 hours in an attempt to be the first one in line for your herd. Without being first in line, you weren’t guaranteed a good seat, a seat next to your traveling companion or even overhead bin space for your carry on luggage.

This time I noticed something different on my paperless ticket - a letter and a number. What was this? An attempt to make the cattle drive a little more civil? My heart began to beat a little faster. Would this cattle drive more resemble getting in the lunch line when I was in grade school instead of the herding of cats that usually occurred? Maybe this new found freedom would spill over into the in-flight service being just a little bit better. Maybe the flight attendants would make an to find overhead bin space for everyone’s carry on-luggage! To much to ask for?

B-26 was my line location and and my wife was B-27 - this meant we were in the second herd, location 26 and 27. We lined up with the B group who had numbers 25 to 30. It was a fairly orderly process, even though they told all the B’s and C’s to say seated while the A’s took center stage - a little tact would have been nice. When the announcement came that the “B” group from 31 to 60 was loading we were pretty optimistic. We looked for two seats together towards the front of the plane - this seemed reasonable since we were only in the second group. Well reason seemed to have gotten off at the previous airport because the only two seats we could find together were in the last 2 rows of the plane. Once again, confined to the back of the “bus” because I couldn’t click my mouse fast enough during the online check-in process.

Content with finding the two seats together, we counted ourselves blessed because the only carry on luggage we had was my wife’s purse. I made the comment to my wife that we were lucky we didn’t have to test the in-flight crew on their overhead bin packing skills - then it happened. There was a 70+ year “younger” lady who was pleased to be in the “A” herd. She was already seated in an isle seat with her bag safely stowed in the overhear compartment. Then came this 30+ year old man who proceeded to cram his backpack into a small space next to the “younger” lady’s bag. The lady asked him to be careful of her bag with which he replied she was taking up to much space. To much space?? Really? You just brought on a backpack that there was no snowball’s chance in Hell of fitting into the approved carry-on luggage measuring box. What a dork!

Much to my surprise, a flight attendant headed to her rescue. Finally a little help for a patient “younger” customer. The flight attendant asked the man what the problem was. He explained his tale of the women’s bag. Without missing a beat (or asking the “younger” lady anything), the flight attendant took the backpack, crammed it into the overhead bin (on top of the women’s bag) slammed the door shut and said “problem solved”. The “younger” lady was in shock - as was I. Under her breath she mumbled something about being in herd “A” and that she deserved to be treated better.

Did Southwest’s attempt at improving their boarding process work? Probably. I didn’t seem as concerned with standing in line for two hours before my flight hoping I would find a seat. Did it help with improving a customer’s ability to find valuable, safe overhead bin space - not so much. Especially for a 70+ years “young” lady who follow-ed all of their rules.

Southwest! Thank you for the change in boarding procedures as it was much needed, but will you please work on the overhead bin space problems you have and maybe throw in a little customer service!

Carefreetrip.com rates our Las Vegas flight on Southwest Airlines out of 5 suitcases.

This Travel Warning alerts U.S. citizens to ongoing safety and security concerns in Syria. American citizens are urged to thoroughly consider the risks of travel to Syria and to take adequate precautions to ensure their safety. This supersedes the Travel Warning for Syria issued on September 18, 2007.

A number of terrorist groups that oppose U.S. policies have offices in Syria. Since 1979, the United States has designated Syria a State Sponsor of Terrorism due to its support for organizations such as Hizbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. In addition, other extremist groups are present in Syria. These groups have the potential to be either the targets of or perpetrators of acts of violence. On February 12, 2008, an explosion occurred in the residential Kafer Soseh neighborhood of Damascus, killing Imad Moughniyeh, a senior Hizbollah operative. In 2006, the U.S. Embassy in Damascus was attacked by terrorists armed with guns, grenades, and a car bomb. The Syrian Government has allowed anti-U.S. demonstrations to occur; the latest was on March 3, 2008. Anti-U.S. demonstrations date back to September 2005, some of which have turned violent and led to damage to Western embassies, including the U.S. Embassy.

U.S. citizens who remain in or travel to Syria are encouraged to register at the consular section of the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Syria. Americans in Syria should exercise caution and take prudent measures to maintain their security. These measures include being aware of their surroundings, avoiding crowds and demonstrations, keeping a low profile, varying times and routes for all travel, and ensuring travel documents are current.

U.S. consular personnel remain available to provide emergency information and services to American citizens. The U.S. Embassy in Damascus, Syria, is located at 2, Al-Mansour St., Abu Roumaneh. The Embassy telephone number is (963) (11) 3391-4444, fax (963) (11) 331-9678, e-mail: acsdamascus@state.gov. American citizens may register with the Embassy online by visiting https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs. Additional information may be found on the Embassy website at http://usembassy.state.gov/damascus.

Updated information on travel and security in Syria may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada or, from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. Additional details can be found in the Department of State’s Country Specific Information for Syria, and the Worldwide Caution, which are available on the Department’s Internet website at http://travel.state.gov.

This Travel Alert updates information for U.S. citizens on security situations in Mexico that may affect their activities while in that country. This supersedes the Travel Alert for Mexico dated October 24, 2007, and expires on October 15, 2008.

Violence Along The U.S.-Mexico Border
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Violent criminal activity fueled by a war between criminal organizations struggling for control of the lucrative narcotics trade continues along the U.S.-Mexico border. Attacks are aimed primarily at members of drug trafficking organizations, Mexican police forces, criminal justice officials, and journalists. However, foreign visitors and residents, including Americans, have been among the victims of homicides and kidnappings in the border region. In its effort to combat violence, the government of Mexico has deployed military troops in various parts of the country. U.S. citizens are urged to cooperate with official checkpoints when traveling on Mexican highways.

Recent Mexican army and police force conflicts with heavily-armed narcotics cartels have escalated to levels equivalent to military small-unit combat and have included use of machine guns and fragmentation grenades. Confrontations have taken place in numerous towns and cities in northern Mexico, including Tijuana in the Mexican state of Baja California, and Chihuahua City and Ciudad Juarez in the state of Chihuahua. The situation in northern Mexico remains very fluid; the location and timing of future armed engagements there cannot be predicted.

Armed robberies and carjackings, apparently unconnected to the narcotics-related violence, have increased in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez. Dozens of U.S. citizens were kidnapped and/or murdered in Tijuana in 2007. Public shootouts have occurred during daylight hours near Shopping areas.

Criminals are armed with a wide array of sophisticated weapons. In some cases, assailants have worn full or partial police or military uniforms and have used vehicles that resemble police vehicles.

U.S. citizens are urged to be especially alert to safety and security concerns when visiting the border region. While Mexican citizens overwhelmingly are the victims of these crimes, this uncertain security situation poses risks for U.S. citizens as well. Thousands of U.S. citizens cross the border safely each day, exercising common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas of border towns during daylight hours. It is strongly recommended that travelers avoid areas where prostitution and drug dealing occur.
Criminals have followed and harassed U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles, particularly in border areas including Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros, and Tijuana. There is no evidence, however, that U.S. citizens are targeted because of their nationality.

U.S. citizen victims of crime in Mexico are urged to contact the consular section of the nearest U.S. consulate or Embassy for advice and assistance.

Crime and Violence in Mexico
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U.S. citizens residing and traveling in Mexico should exercise caution when in unfamiliar areas and be aware of their surroundings at all times. Violence by criminal elements affects many parts of the country, urban and rural, including border areas. Though there is no evidence that U.S. citizens are specifically targeted, Mexican and foreign bystanders have been injured or killed in some violent attacks, demonstrating the heightened risk in public places. In recent years, dozens of U.S. citizens have been kidnapped in Mexico and many cases remain unresolved. Moreover, new cases of disappearances and kidnap-for-ransom continue to be reported. No one can be considered immune from kidnapping on the basis of occupation, nationality, or other factors. U.S. citizens who believe they are being followed should notify Mexican officials as soon as possible. U.S. citizens should make every attempt to travel on main roads during daylight hours, particularly the toll (“cuota”) roads, which are generally more secure. It is preferable for U.S. citizens to stay in well-known tourist destinations and tourist areas of the cities with more adequate security, and provide an itinerary to a friend or family member not traveling with them. U.S. citizens should avoid traveling alone as a means to better ensure their safety. Refrain from displaying expensive-looking jewelry, large amounts of money, or other valuable items.

Demonstrations occur frequently throughout Mexico and usually are peaceful. However, even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence unexpectedly. Some deaths occurred during violent demonstrations, including an American citizen who died in the 2006 violence in Oaxaca. During demonstrations or law enforcement operations, U.S. citizens are advised to remain in their homes or hotels, avoid large crowds, and avoid the downtown and surrounding areas. Since the timing and routes of scheduled marches and demonstrations are always subject to change, U.S. citizens should monitor local media sources for new developments and exercise extreme caution while within the vicinity of protests. The Mexican Constitution prohibits political activities by foreigners, and such actions may result in detention and/or deportation. Therefore, U.S. citizens are advised to avoid participating in demonstrations or other activities that might be deemed political by Mexican authorities.

For more detailed information on staying safe in Mexico, please see the Mexico Country Specific Information at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html. For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States, or, for callers from Mexico, a regular toll line at 001-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). American citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to register with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the State Department’s travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov/.

For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens in Mexico, please contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The U.S. Embassy is located in Mexico City at Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, telephone from the United States: 011-52-55-5080-2000; telephone within Mexico City: 5080-2000; telephone long distance within Mexico 01-55-5080-2000. You may also contact the Embassy by e-mail at: ccs@usembassy.net.mx. The Embassy’s internet address is http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/.

Consulates:
Ciudad Juarez: Avenida Lopez Mateos 924-n, telephone (52)(656) 611-3000.
Guadalajara: Progreso 175, telephone (52)(333) 268-2100.
Hermosillo: Avenida Monterrey 141, telephone (52)(662) 289-3500.
Matamoros: Avenida Primera 2002, telephone (52)(868) 812-4402.
Merida: Calle 60 no. 338 k, telephone (52)(999) 942-5700
Monterrey: Avenida Constitucion 411 Poniente, telephone (52)(818) 345-2120.
Nogales: Calle San Jose, Nogales, Sonora, telephone (52)(631) 311-8150.
Nuevo Laredo: Calle Allende 3330, col. Jardin, telephone (52)(867) 714-0512.
Tijuana: Tapachula 96, telephone (52)(664) 622-7400.

Consular Agencies:

Acapulco: Hotel Continental Emporio, Costera Miguel Aleman 121 - local 14, telephone (52)(744) 484-0300 or (52)(744) 469-0556.
Cabo San Lucas: Blvd. Marina local c-4, Plaza Nautica, col. Centro, telephone (52)(624) 143-3566.
Cancun: Plaza Caracol two, second level, no. 320-323, Boulevard Kukulcan, km. 8.5, Zona Hotelera, telephone (52)(998) 883-0272.
Ciudad Acuca: Ocampo # 305, col. Centro, telephone (52)(877) 772-8661
Cozumel: Plaza Villa Mar en el Centro, Plaza Principal, (Parque Juarez between Melgar and 5th ave.) 2nd floor, locales #8 and 9, telephone (52)(987) 872-4574.
Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo: Hotel Fontan, Blvd. Ixtapa, telephone (52)(755) 553-2100.
Mazatlan: Hotel Playa Mazatlan, Playa Gaviotas #202, Zona Dorada, telephone (52)(669) 916-5889.
Oaxaca: Macedonio Alcala no. 407, interior 20, telephone (52)(951) 514-3054 (52)(951) 516-2853.
Piedras Negras: Abasolo #211, Zona Centro, Piedras Negras, Coah., Tel. (878) 782-5586.
Playa del Carmen: “The Palapa,” Calle 1 Sur, between Avenida 15 and Avenida 20, telephone (52)(984) 873-0303.
Puerto Vallarta: Paradise Plaza, Paseo de los Cocoteros #1, Local #4, Interior #17, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, telephone (52)(322) 222-0069.
Reynosa: Calle Monterrey #390, Esq. Sinaloa, Colonia Rodriguez, telephone: (52)(899) 923 - 9331
San Luis Potosi: Edificio “Las Terrazas”, Avenida Venustiano Carranza 2076-41, Col. Polanco, telephone: (52)(444) 811-7802/7803.
San Miguel de Allende: Dr. Hernandez Macias #72, telephone (52)(415) 152-2357 or (52)(415) 152-0068.

This Travel Warning updates information on security incidents in Yemen. On April 7, the Department of State ordered the departure from Yemen of non-emergency American employees of the U.S. Embassy and eligible family members. The Department recommends that American citizens defer non-essential travel to Yemen. American citizens remaining in Yemen despite this warning should monitor the U.S. Embassy website athttp://yemen.usembassy.gov/yemen/citizen_services.htmlfor updates on security concerns and should make contingency emergency plans. This supersedes the Travel Warning for Yemen issued March 19, 2008.

The Department of State ordered the departure from Yemen of non-emergency American employees of the U.S. Embassy and eligible family members following the April 6, 2008 attack on the Hadda residential compound in Sanaa in which three explosive rounds were fired into the compound. This attack follows the March 18 mortar attack on the U.S. Embassy, which injured several Yemeni citizens in the vicinity of the Embassy. Embassy employees are not authorized to travel outside of Sanaa and have been advised to avoid hotels, restaurants, and tourist areas and to strictly limit their exposure in public places until further notice.

The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to Yemen at this time. The security threat level remains high due to terrorist activities in Yemen. U.S. citizens who travel to or remain in Yemen despite this warning should exercise caution and take prudent security measures, including maintaining a high level of vigilance, avoiding crowds and demonstrations, keeping a low profile, varying times and routes for all travel, and making contingency emergency plans such as ensuring travel documents are current. American citizens in Yemen are advised to exercise particular caution at locations frequented by foreigners countrywide including restaurants and hotels frequented by expatriates. From time to time, the Embassy may restrict official Americans from restaurants, hotels, or Shopping areas. The Department of State strongly encourages American citizens to consult the most recent Warden Messages (http://yemen.usembassy.gov/yemen/citizen_services.html) to get up-to-date information on security conditions. Americans who believe they are being followed or threatened while driving in urban centers should proceed as quickly as possible to the nearest police station or major intersection and request assistance from the officers in the blue-and-white police cars stationed there.

The Department remains concerned about possible attacks by extremist individuals or groups against U.S. citizens, facilities, businesses, and perceived interests. On January 17, 2008, suspected al-Qa’ida operatives ambushed a tourist convoy in the eastern Hadramout Governorate, killing two Belgians. On July 2, 2007, suspected al-Qa’ida operatives carried out a vehicle-borne explosive device attack on tourists at the Belquis Temple in Marib, which resulted in the deaths of eight Spanish tourists and two Yemenis. The targeting of tourist sites by al-Qa’ida may represent an escalation in terror tactics in Yemen. In February 2006, 23 convicts, including known affiliates of al-Qa’ida, escaped from a high-security prison in the capital city, Sanaa, some of whom remain at large. Two of the escapees were later killed while participating in vehicle-based suicide attacks on oil facilities near Mukalla and Marib in September 2006. Those attacks were followed by the arrest the next day in Sanaa of four suspected al-Qa’ida operatives, who had stockpiled explosives and weapons.

Since January 2007, the Government of Yemen has been battling al Houthi rebels in and around the northern governorate of Saada. While foreigners have not been targeted, hundreds of soldiers and civilians have been killed in the ongoing violence. U.S. citizens traveling in Yemen should be aware that local authorities occasionally place restrictions on the travel of foreigners to parts of the country experiencing unrest. In addition, the U.S. Embassy itself often restricts travel of official personnel to the tribal areas north and east of Sanaa, such as the governorates of Amran, Al Jawf, Hajja, Marib, Saada, and Shabwa. Travelers should be in contact with the Embassy for up-to-date information on such restrictions.

U.S. citizens should register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa and enroll in the warden system (emergency alert network) to obtain updated information on travel and security in Yemen. This can be done online prior to arrival in Yemen at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs.

The U.S. Embassy is located at Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, P.O. Box 22347. The telephone number of the Consular Section is (967) (1) 755-2000, extension 2153 or 2266. The fax number is (967) (1) 303-175. The after hours emergency number is (967) (1) 755-2000 (press zero for extension) or (967) 733213509. From time to time the Embassy may temporarily close or suspend public services for security reasons. Emergency assistance to U.S. citizens during non-business hours (or when public access is restricted) is available through Embassy duty personnel.

Current information on travel and security in Yemen may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada or, from outside the United States and Canada, 1-202-501-4444. U.S. citizens should consult the Country Specific Information for Yemen, and the Worldwide Caution on the Department’s Internet site at http://travel.state.gov. Up-to-date information on security conditions can also be accessed at http://yemen.usembassy.gov/yemen/citizen_services.html.

Walt Disney World is always a great travel destination for families. If there is a cleaner theme park anywhere, I would like someone to show it to me. The parks that make up Disney World are nothing but amazing! Providing every kids, there is no age limit, dream and desire. WDW provides a break from the daily reality of life. My wife and I had the opportunity to travel to Walt Disney World and stay a Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.

This resort has a Southwest, Mexican theme that provides a fiesta in the middle of Walt Disney World in Florida. This is a a great resort location to relax and getaway - they even provide the hammocks along a wonderful lagoon. There is lots of open space to take a walk, rent a bike, or just enjoy the wonderful Florida sun.

This resort boasts many great restaurants and even boasts a wonderful dish called the smothered burrito at the Pepper Market - you have to try it! It was unfortunate that the staff was not more helpful and accommodating. They seemed more interested in moving people through the lines than delivering your order correctly.

My wife and I love to visit Disney World. If you love the Southwest, you will enjoy this wonderful resort. I just hope they learn who is the guest and provide you better service than what we received.

Carefreetrip.com gives Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort out of 5 suitcases.