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Hyatt Hotels Corp. has opened the Secrets Mirabel Cancun Resort & Spa, an adults-only, all-inclusive property located in Cancun's Hotel Zone. The resort expands the Secrets Resorts & Spas brand in Latin America and the Caribbean, following recent openings in St. Lucia, Aruba and the Dominican Republic.
Situated eight miles from Cancun Airport, the beachfront property offers views of the Caribbean Sea and Nichupte Lagoon. The resort features 487 rooms and suites, designed with contemporary coastal decor and private terraces overlooking the ocean, lagoon or gardens. Guests seeking upgraded amenities can book Preferred Club accommodations, which include swim-out suites, a rooftop Sky Bar, private lounge and exclusive dining options.
The Secrets Mirabel Cancun Resort & Spa includes eight restaurants and six bars, as well as interactive culinary programming. Recreational facilities feature six pools, an oceanfront hot tub and cultural activities including agave tastings. A full-service spa drawing from traditional Mayan practices is scheduled to open later.
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Tauck has opened bookings for Roam, its new brand designed for travelers in their 40s and 50s.
The brand was developed based on traveler surveys and research. The itineraries were built to include ample free time, allowing for independent experiences on guided trips. Prices start at $6,390.
"Since introducing Roam by Tauck in August, we've heard tremendous enthusiasm from travel advisors who recognize this fills a meaningful gap in the luxury travel market," said CEO Jennifer Tombaugh. "We designed these journeys for travelers who lead dynamic, fast-paced lives and want a guided experience that still feels personal, less structured, and yet entirely effortless."
Roam by Tauck will debut in 2026 with five itineraries and will expand to a dozen in 2027.
The seven-day Mexico City & San Miguel de Allende will split time between the two cities. Travelers will have a private tour of the Museum of Anthropology, can go on a food tour and take a hot air balloon ride over Teotihuacan. The itinerary features stays at the JW Marriott Mexico City Polanco and Casa de Sierra Nevada, a Belmond Hotel.
Bordeaux & The Dordogne will take travelers on an eight-day journey through two French regions. While in Bordeaux, guests will climb Europe's tallest sand dune and have an oenology experience. Then, travelers will head to the Dordogne, where they will have a private tour and wine tasting at a family-owned vineyard, go kayaking and a do a private tour of a historic chateau.
The seven-day San Sebastian & Rioja features Spain's Basque Country. Guests will enjoy regional wine while exploring medieval villages. Travelers can hike part of the Camino de Santiago trail, enjoy a gourmet salt tasting in the Añana Salt Valley and visit vineyards in Rioja. Other highlights include dinner prepared by a Michelin-starred chef and exploring Getaria, a fishing village.
The longest itinerary is the 10-day Prague & The Danube, which blends a land tour with a river cruise. This itinerary includes visits to Prague, Passau, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. Travelers will stay in The Augustine while in Prague, which is home to a working monastery. Itinerary highlights include a cruise on Tauck's Savor river ship, visiting the Czech fairytale village of Cesky Krumlov and a private waltz lesson at Palais Pallavicini in Vienna.
The eight-day Porto & The Douro Valley is a river cruise itinerary onboard the Andorinha. Travelers will visit Porto, Pinhão, Peso de Regua, Pocinho and Folgosa. Guests can take a surfing lesson, go on a food tour in Porto, tour vineyards and embark on a rock art "safari" of Penascosa in the Côa Valley.
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The TSA will continue to allow airline passengers who don't have an acceptable form of identification to board their flight, but starting Feb. 1 they must pay $45 for the use of an alternative identity-verification system.
The system is called TSA Confirm.ID, and it is meant for travelers who arrive at airport security with a driver's license that isn't Real ID-compliant.
The TSA indicated this was coming in a Nov. 20 notice posted in the Federal Register, but the cost turned out to be higher than $18, the dollar figure in the notice.
The U.S. government began requiring Real ID driver's licenses last May, but it has been allowing travelers with noncompliant licenses to fly if they undergo identity verification at the airport. Now that option is going to cost them. Once passengers pay, the confirmed ID is good for 10 days.
The TSA urges passengers to pay for Confirm.ID online before traveling. For passengers who arrive at the airport without paying the fee, information about how to pay for Confirm.ID will be available at marked locations at or near the security checkpoint in most airports, said TSA, adding that passengers paying at the airport should expect increased security wait times.
The TSA said 94% of passengers use a Real ID driver's license or another acceptable form of identification such as a passport, passport card or DHS trusted-traveler card like Global Entry. By charging passengers who don't have an acceptable form of ID, the TSA is perhaps giving the other 6% motivation to schedule an appointment at their local Division of Motor Vehicles to get their Real ID license.
TSA official Adam Stahl said the new fee "ensures the cost to cover verification of an insufficient ID will come from the traveler, not the taxpayer."
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Some of the Caribbean nations that require US Citizens to apply for a visitor card, immigration and/or customs form in advance of travel. Most are free, some are not.
For the British Virgin Islands and all of Great Britain and it's territories, you must obtain an electronic travel authorization visa by downloading the UK ETA app to your phone and applying.
Aruba - https://edcardaruba.aw/
British Virgin Islands - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta#apply-for-an-eta
Curacao - https://dicardcuracao.com
Dominican Republic - https://eticket.migracion.gob.do/Home/
Jamaica - enterjamaica.gov.jm
Saint Lucia - https://travelslu.govt.lc/
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