Call us on 028 3832-3618 or click here to book this worldwide special offer.

Offer details

Ref: 739905

• Travelling 20th March 2012
• 7 nights International Palms Resort -Orlando
• + 7 nights Riu Cancun Hotel (All inclusive)
• Including Transfers
• includes return flights from Dublin with BA

Terms and conditions apply. Prices are per person, based on 2 sharing and include flights, tax and hotel stated. Insurance is extra.

Prices subject to limited availability.

Hotel Overview - International Palms

Positioned in attractive, good-sized grounds. Underwent a refurbishment in 2010. In a quiet location just off International Drive with its shops and restaurants and close to Universal and Wet 'n' Wild theme parks.

Exterior: A peach 4-storey property in an L-shape with exterior corridors and metal railed balconies. The entrance building is on 2 storeys with a covered, drive-up entrance.

Property type: Hotel

Balcony/Terrace: None

Storeys: 4

Rooms: 192

Grounds

The pool has a fenced surround with a concrete lounger area and a separate pool bar building with a tiled roof. Adjacent is a duck pond and a lawn.

Location

Area Type: On an avenue set back from International Drive, surrounded by other tourist accommodation. The property offers free transport to the theme parks and the main highway is directly behind.

Nearest Shops: 350 yds

Facilities

• Bars: Poolside bar
• Eating: All-buffet restaurant,Snack Bar
• Pools: Angular (12 yds)

Public facilities

• Indoor games
• Internet terminal(s)
• Personal Parking
• In-room facilities
• Air conditioning
• Hairdryer
• Minibar/fridge
• Safes
• Tea/Coffee making facilities
• TV (English language) 

Resort Overview - International Palms

A metropolitan area on a huge scale (15 by 30 mls), Orlando comprises 3 counties – Orange, Seminole and Osceola – and ranks as one of the fastest-growing urban centres in the USA. It developed as a tourist destination only slowly till the opening of Disney World Resort Florida in 1971, after which things really took off. Today, over 100 attractions make Orlando America's number-one tourist destination. There are several distinct areas in this conurbation: Walt Disney World Area, located in the southwest; Kissimmee in the extreme south; International Drive in the central area; Florida Mall between the airport and downtown; Downtown and Colonial Drive in the northeast; and the Altamonte Springs/Winter Park area in the far north.

During the morning and evening rush hours and at weekends, the major thoroughfares are gridlocked, so allow extra time for getting from A to B. Also give this fact serious consideration when deciding where to stay; it is a choice between cheaper hotels involving longer journey times against more expensive properties that are right on top of things.

Public Transport

The public bus system is quite limited and not easily accessed by tourists. The I-Drive trolley bus is an efficient, dedicated tourist service operating along International Drive and Universal Boulevard resort area, with over 94 stops. Car hire is the most practical option and cheaper than in Europe, but distances are great and the traveller needs to be prepared for heavy traffic. The Interstate exit numbers changed in 2002; both sets of numbers are well signposted, but it can be confusing. Florida law allows right turns at red traffic lights and headlights must be on during rainstorms. Shuttle buses can be arranged at most hotel receptions to different locations (sometimes free of charge). Taxis are readily available and can be found at major hotels, restaurants and attractions.

Location

Location: In the southeastern United States, in the centre of Florida state. 60 mls southwest of Daytona Beach (Atlantic Ocean, east coast). 95 mls northeast of Tampa (Gulf of Mexico, west coast). 135 mls south of Jacksonville. 240 mls northwest of Miami. Orlando international airport is 6 mls east of International Drive resort area.

Position: A flat area of land that was originally swamp and citrus groves. Very verdant, with trees and lots of water features, lakes, rivers etc.

Dialling Code: 407

Tourist Board: www.go2orlando.com

Beach

A large number of artificial beaches on many of the resort's 300-plus lakes, many in the Disney World area.

Entertainment

Daytime: huge numbers of theme parks and attractions; over 170 golf courses; lake water sports include water-skiing, jet-skiing, sailing, fishing, airboat rides and speed boats; car and drag racing; spectator sports, such as dog racing, jai alai (a fast-moving ball game), baseball, basketball and, at times, rodeo. Indoor surf park and sky diving.

Nightlife: Pleasure Island and CityWalk nightlife parks, with a variety of clubs, bars and restaurants; themed dinner shows, including jousting knights, murder mysteries, swashbuckling pirates and Polynesian feast nights; Pointe Orlando has a 21-screen cinema complex and 4 nightclubs. Comedy theatre.

Serving Airports

Orlando International (MCO) Flight time from the UK: 9 hrs

Orlando Sanford International (SFB) Flight time from the UK: 9 hrs

Market/Suitability

Something for everyone; families with children will probably get the most out of it but, with the huge range of things on offer, there really is no doubt Orlando has something for every pocket and persuasion.

Shopping

An enormous choice, the following only touching the surface. Prime Outlets is the largest mall with major brand name stores; The Mercado Center and Pointe Orlando on International Drive have over 60 shops and 5 restaurants respectively; Florida Mall has 200 shops and a busy food court; Church Street Station Exchange is a multilevel retail centre in a historic train station. Flea World is one of America's largest markets under one roof (104 acres). Park Avenue is a downtown shopping area full of exclusive boutiques, designer stores, restaurants and tourist outlets.

Eating Out

Over 5,200 restaurants: you name it, they've got it – the full range, from fast food to fine dining. Many smaller hotels and motels serve only a basic breakfast.

Accommodation

More hotel rooms than any other city in the USA. Confusion often arises over the plethora of chain hotels with similar names; check the property address to avoid confusion. A wide selection, from basic motels to country clubs and first-class themed resorts.

Local Excursions (Optional payable locally)

Theme parks: Cypress Gardens; Gatorland; Splendid China; The Holy Land Experience; Kennedy Space Center; Sea World; Discovery Cove; Universal Studios; Islands of Adventure; Epcot Center; Disney-MGM Studios; Magic Kingdom; Disney's Animal Kingdom; and many more. Water parks: Typhoon Lagoon; Blizzards Beach; Wet 'n Wild; and others. Cultural and special interest: Central Florida Zoological Gardens; Don Garlit's Museum of Drag Racing; Botanical Gardens; Orlando Museum of Art; US Astronaut Hall of Fame and Space Shop; Ripley's Believe It or Not Odditorium; WonderWorks; Aviation Museum; Titanic Exhibition. Wilderness and nature reserve in Seminole County. 

Riu Cancun Hotel - Overview

One of most prominent landmarks in the lively resort centre, bordering a long stretch of well furnished sandy beach. An all-inclusive property, it offers a wealth of facilities for children and adults alike and would appeal to a wide range of ages and party types. Located within walking distance of the nightlife and dining venues.

Exterior

A striking, tall, white coloured building in an L-shape with a glass fronted apex extending the entire height of the building and roof top turret features. Balconied rooms face out to sea, across the Hotel Zone to the lagoon beyond with further rooms in another 6-storey wing. Separated from the street by a grass verge, with an iron topped wall and clusters of palm trees lining the parking zone and an arched portico over the set down area.

Property type: Hotel

Balcony/Terrace: Most rooms

Storeys: 15

Built Year: 1985

Interior

Expansive lobby has polished marbe-effect tiled flooring, ornamental windows, intricate lighting and an elaborate glass-domed ceiling. In addition to a smartly appointed sports bar, both the main restaurant and the Brazilian venues are located in the central area, each with appropriate decor and a bright, cheerful ambience. On the upper floor is a sports bar, meeting rooms and a snack facility reached by stairs which leads to a compact spa facility with 4 treatment rooms. There is also a theatre and disco.

Rooms: 568

Grounds

Extending the width of the property and bordered by a long beach front, some of which is raised above a smart 4m high wall, the property has 4 pool areas in well landscaped grounds, all of which can be accessed from the colonnaded exterior of the main building. A split infinity pool and separate Jacuzzi are located in a quieter area by a gently shelving sandy beach next to a small cove, while the main infinity pool, also surrounded by a wide terrace furnished with sunloungers and parasols, is situated adjacent to an open sided restaurant. On generally level terrain, there is also a smaller pool with a swim-up bar close to the wedding gazebo which overlooks the long stretch of sandy beach. To the side of the property is a large kid’s club and pool.

Location

Area Type: Located in a cluster of large resort style properties at the northernmost end of the Hotel Zone. Close to Xcaret bus terminal and the ferry service to Isla Mujeres. Wide range of entertainment and dining venues can be reached by a 10 min walk. Frequent bus service to Downtown and nearest stops is a 10 min walk away. Transfer time to Cancun International Airport, 30 mins.

Nearest beach: Beachfront (Cancun)

Facilities

• All inclusive available

Bars

• Poolside bar
• Beach bar
• Main Bar
• Sports bar

Eating

• A la carte restaurant
• All-buffet restaurant
• Snack Bar
• Other

Pools

• Lagoon-style (12 yds)
• Infinity (12 yds
• )Infinity (22 yds)

Public facilities

• Beauty/spa
• Children's daytime entertainment
• Children's playground
• Evening entertainment
• Fitness room/gym
• Hairdresser
• Indoor games
• Internet terminal(s)
• Jacuzzi
• Nightclub/disco
• Sauna
• Turkish Baths/Steam Room
• WiFi Access

In-room facilities

• Air conditioning
• Hairdryer
• Minibar/fridge
• Room(s) for disabled
• Safes
• Tea/Coffee making facilities
• TV (English language)

Always check details with the property

Resort Overview - Cancun

Once little more than a fishing village, the tourist resort of Cancun has grown exponentially since the mid-1970s to become a world leader in the business of processing tourists seeking tropical sun, white sand and blue sea. The whole length of the narrow island is dotted with large, smart, modern, international-style hotels. Though the main commercial tourist area centres on the Punta Cancun, surrounding the convention centre, there is no real heart to the resort. The overall character is heavily American; with American English spoken by virtually everyone and US dollars accepted almost as readily as pesos, the resort is often likened to Florida. The majority of visitors seem to stay within the confines of their all-inclusive hotels, venturing out only for specific tours or activities – so key attractions are often packed to bursting. The wandering and browsing element which gives a human side to most destinations is largely missing, unless visitors travel to downtown Cancun, 4 mls away, which at least has a genuine centre and focus to its amenities.

Public Transport

Regular buses and a large fleet of taxis make circuits up and down the hotel strip and link to the downtown area, making it fairly easy to move around the resort; long-distance buses leave from the bus station in the downtown area. There is also a regular water taxi that runs every hour between predetermined points on the lagoon side of the central hotel strip.

Location

Location: On the northeast tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, on the Mexican Caribbean coast. 200 mls east of Merida. 45 mls northeast of Playa del Carmen. 8 mls northeast of Cancun international airport.

Position: The tourist resort occupies a sandy, roughly L-shaped, 15-ml-long spit of almost completely flat land, enclosing Nichupte Lagoon on its western side with the Caribbean on its eastern side. Bridges at each end link it to the mainland. Downtown Cancun is 4 mls northwest.

Dialling Code: 998

Tourist Board: www.visitmexico.com

Beach

Top of the range, with long swathes of soft, white, coral sand lapped by clear, blue water. The sea off the north-facing coast, protected by the Isla Mujeres, is considerably calmer and better suited to water sports than the sea off the longer, more exposed, east-facing coast, where undertows are not uncommon; most hotels operate a flag system to warn of dangerous conditions. Lagoon-facing hotels usually have sandy terraces or boardwalks.

Entertainment

Daytime: lazing on the beach or around the pool; myriad water sports including sailing, windsurfing, jet-skiing, parasailing, canoeing, snorkelling, banana rides and scuba diving (with courses for beginners); swimming with dolphins; water parks; boat trips to Isla Mujeres, providing alternative locations for the usual beach and water activities; glass-bottom boat and semi-submersible trips give nonswimmers a chance to explore the deep; shopping; golf; horse riding; all-terrain vehicles. Most hotels offer activity programmes, gyms, tennis courts etc.

Nightlife: sunset cruises, cultural shows and hotel entertainment programmes; numerous bars, discos and clubs pulsate into the early hours and beyond.

Serving Airports Cancun (CUN)Flight time from the UK: 11 hrs

Shopping

Numerous shopping plazas scattered throughout the tourist resort, ranging from modest, local shopping parades to large, modern centres with international, brand-name shops. The main commercial tourist area, around the convention centre, also has a market for local handicrafts. At a cental point along the strip, the largest shopping complex, called La Isla, justs out into the lagoon. The downtown area has more shopping centres and markets. Prices are not particularly cheap unless the quality is poor, so people seeking the work of local artisans at bargain prices will be disappointed. Jewellery, glass and onyx are popular offerings, and cheap souvenir T-shirts are so common they seem to multiply before your eyes.

Eating Out

Wide, varied choice, although most are hotel-based a la carte establishments. Outside the hotels, the vast majority are firmly mid-range with an individual twist – either Asian, seafood, European or Caribbean – to a standard menu. Big-name international brands are much in evidence. Although there are a few fast-food outlets, in general, prices tend not to be low, but quality and quantity are usually pretty good. The only really cheap options are big-name, fast-food outlets and local options in the downtown area.

Accommodation

Predominantly very large, modern, quality hotels, many are all-inclusive and are often operated by American and other international hospitality companies. Some timeshare developments. A few small, older establishments, often on the lagoon side of the hotel strip. More mundane and budget accommodation can be found in the downtown area.

Local Excursions - Optional (Payable Locally) 

Tour of the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza (long day), or the less popular, less demanding ruins at Tulum and Coba. Numerous eco-parks along the coast south of the resort, ranging from the theme-park-style Xcaret to the simple Tres Rios, with its undeveloped forest, rivers and beaches; some eco-parks have dolphin-swim programmes. Diving trips, often to Isla Cozumel, where the sites are considerably better than the resort's own reefs. Organised packages to Isla Mujeres, often including dolphin swims. Boat trips into the lagoon.

 

Interested?

For more information on this offer, call us today on (028) 3832 3618, arrange a callback or email us.

Alternatively, if you would prefer we are very happy to see you in person at our new Travel Lounge, Lurgan. Visitors are advised to make an appointment with one of our specialist consultants. 

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