Swine flu.  The mere name sounds vaguely Dickensian for some reason.  It’s not something I want to have any dealings with whatsoever, especially when I consider that I and my two children just got over a nasty stomach virus that had its fair share of aches and pains along with the requisite other stuff one has to deal with when stomach bugs hit.

Oddly enough, the Westin Lagunamar in Cancun just called to say that they magically have an opening and would like to know if I’d like to come!

Well, when I look at the villas, sure, I’d love to!  But not in 2 weeks, thanks.  I can do my due dilgence with hand washing and all that, but I can’t know that the staff is doing the same.  And while the same can be said for any restaurant or store I visit right in my own neighborhood, the difference is that I haven’t used up precious vacation time and flown several hours for the privilege.

So, dear Mexico, I think you and I shall have to meet some other time.  Were it just hubby and I we might brave it, but I won’t put 2 kids under 6 who need to regain the weight they lost, at that kind of risk.  Maybe next year?

How nice of the folks at Kimpton Hotels to pay our taxes!

From now until the end of the month, if you stay at a Kimpton property under the Sweet Tax Relief package, they will pay your taxes.

On your room, that is.

With the Sweet Tax Relief Package, you’ll get

• deluxe accommodations
• a grab bag filled with appropriately named sweets like the 100 Grand candy bar or the Payday
• late checkout when available
• paid room tax

And if you dine at the hotel restaurant during your stay, they’ll pay the tax there too.

Speaking of restaurants, all Kimpton property restaurants have highchairs and boosters for the little ones that can also be delivered to your room for private dining.  And when dinner is over, kids can wrap up in pint-sized animal print bathrobes, loaned for your stay or available for purchase.

Hey! Maybe you can pay for it with the money you saved on your room tax!

It’s that time again.

Where should we go?

Right now, we’re leaning towards Cancun.  Despite the monstrous cheese factor, there are actually some excellent hotels to be found, some good restaurants to discover (and I do not mean Senor Frog’s, thank you, even with the kids).  And for what we are looking for right now, it fits the bill.  Our needs are (and yes, they are all needs):

• a direct flight under 4 hours
• a beach that is fairly calm for the kids so that they can play themselves into tired oblivion
• insane poolside service
• the ability to stay at the hotel the entire time and not feel bored (I should note, this is not usually how we operate.  The last vacation we took like that was when I was 5 months pregnant and wanted to pamper my swollen self – and even then, we went offsite.  And we may this time too – but we are so fried that we are seriously considering one of those vacations where we see nothing outside of the hotel)
• good dining options on the property
• another country (Pudding needs another stamp in his passport – he has some catching up to do)

That said, if you have any suggestions (we are on the East Coast),  I welcome them.  I might not use them right now, but I’d love to hear where you’ve been with your kids, if you liked it or not (property or destination) and anything else you care to share.