There’s no need to panic but just wanted to remind readers the 2011 Hurricane Season has begun (June 1, to be exact) and runs through November 30. Remain calm. The chances of a hurricane making landfall and ruining a summer vacation is minimal. Because of this, there is no reason to avoid vacationing in destinations where a hurricane could make landfall such as Mexico, Southeastern United States and Dominican Republic. If there is a good thing about hurricanes it’s that there’s time to plan.

When booking your summer vacation, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Know the hotel’s (or rental agency’s) cancellation policy for named storms (i.e.: hurricanes). Chances are, you won’t lose your deposit if your vacation is disrupted due to hurricane but check anyway.

Book with an airline with flexible booking options. Believe it or not, not all airlines charge a change fee so if you’re concerned your vacation may be disrupted by a named storm, book with an airline offering flexibility.

Investigate travel insurance during the travel planning process. There are several forms of travel insurance out there and if you’re insuring your trip, make sure it covers travel disruption due to hurricanes. And the time to look at travel insurance is during the travel planning process, not when a named storm is out there because chances are, if there’s already a storm churning, you’ll have a difficult time locating a policy.

If you happen to be vacationing in a destination that is expecting a hurricane, it’s important to remain calm. Tune into local news stations (radio, television, Internet) for the latest information. Follow instructions from your hotel/rental agency on what to do. If you’re remaining at the property during the storm, avoid windows, find high ground if in a storm surge area, and do not go outside. Yeah, it’s tempting to go out and surf the turbulent waves but don’t do it.

If you’re asked to leave the property, do so as soon as possible to get ahead of the traffic. Have a plan mapped out before leaving the hotel and ask front desk staff to assist you in locating alternative accommodations.  Although a named storm may be expected to make landfall in one area of a state it doesn’t mean the entire state will suffer.

Don’t let Mother Nature prevent you from planning a summer vacation. You and your kids worked hard all year long to enjoy it. Just invest in a little planning to prevent any unwanted surprises.

Image Source: Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism

We’ve read the U.S. State Department travel warnings to Mexico and have heard about the escalating drug wars, carjackings and shootings. Mexico is a large country and although the media may want you to think visiting now is unsafe, Lonely Planet travel expert Robert Reid says otherwise.

In his article on CNN.com called, “Travel Expert: Why You Should Go to Mexico,” Reid doesn’t sugar-coat the situation but lays out the facts why visiting “Mexico is a lot safer than you may realize.”

Let’s take geography for instance. If you have friends who live in another country, don’t they send you an email of concern when devastation happens in Middle America and you live on the East Coast? We know the United States is huge and so is Mexico. (Well, not quite as big as the U.S., but it’s still big.)

As Reid points out in his article, there are 17 Mexico states not named in the April 22 updated travel warnings that are perfect for vacationing including the Yucatan Peninsula, San Miguel de Allende and Mexico City.

He says one of Mexico’s safest destinations is located an hour inland from Cancun’s beaches, Yucatan state. He relates the population of Yucatan to that of Kansas but it only “saw two drug-related deaths in 2010 while Wichita, Kansas, had six gang-related killings” that same year.

Reid quotes a Cozumel diving operator “who is ’shocked’ when people say they had been scared” to visit Mexico. He also says, “in most of central and southern Mexico, drug violence simply isn’t on the radar” of everyday life.

As we know, crime has no address and Mexico is no different. But the same crimes as pickpocketing can be found in the United States as in Mexico.

Read travel expert Robert Reid’s entire article to learn the other reasons to visit Mexico and ease concerns about planning your Mexico vacation.

Image Source: Riviera Maya Destination Marketing Office

Home to a melting pot of flavors with Cajun, Creole, French and American dominating the scene, New Orleans is an ideal culinary vacation destination.  The Crescent City continues to welcome visitors with a vibrant culinary scene. Following is a tasty sampling of what’s been happening in the New Orleans dining scene this spring:

Home to the most innovative and talented chefs in the world, New Orleans Chefs Tory McPhail (Commander’s Palace), Stephen Stryjewski (Cochon) and John Harris (Lilette) were recently announced as three of the five finalists for the 2011 James Beard Awards’ Best Chef: South category. The winner will be announced in New York City on May 9, 2011.

The New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) has partnered with Emeril Lagasse’s foundation to offer its high school students a four-year program in culinary arts. NOCCA is renowned for its creative arts programs and its ability to help aspiring musicians, dancers and artists thrive.

Former New Orleans Saints Quarterback and New Orleanian Archie Manning have partnered with Harrah’s New Orleans to open Manning’s, a restaurant and bar located in Fulton Square set to open in fall 2011.

World-renowned chefs John Folse and Rick Tramonto have announced their partnership and the formation of Home on the Range: Folse Tramonto Restaurant Development, LLC, in which their first joint venture will be Restaurant R’evolution. The restaurant is scheduled to open in the Royal Sonesta Hotel in 2011 and will offer contemporary Creole cuisine.

Upcoming food events to tempt your tummy into planning a New Orleans vacation include:

• New Orleans Wine and Food Experience, May 24-28, 2011
• New Orleans Oyster Festival, June 4-5, 2011
• Tales of the Cocktail, July 20-24, 2011
• COOLinary New Orleans, Aug. 1-Sept. 30, 2011
• Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival, Oct. 14-16, 2011

Hungry for a New Orleans vacation? Thought so.

Photo courtesy New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau/Carl Purcell