Just north of Puerto Vallarta is a surfer-friendly, wallet-conscious oasis with none of the crowds—or cheesiness—of its more famous neighbor.

Where to Eat

Two year-old Marplata is sleepy San Pancho’s best restaurant. Named after the riverfront Argentine city, Marplata’s Pan-Euro/Latino menu is courtesy of Belgian chef Amandine Darmstaedter, a longtime Mexico vet. There are both indoor and alfresco dining rooms, a sizable wine menu (strong on New World vintages) and house specials like red-snapper tartare.

Surfer dude Mark Holt and his wife opened the tiny taco joint Sayulita Fish Taco (just off Sayulita’s main plaza) in 2001. Holt serves “Baja”-style tacos: soft tortillas, shredded cabbage, flame-grilled or beer-battered mahimahi, and even mango salsa. There are also hearty burritos and fajitas and a kids’ menu of Chihuahuas in a blanket, mini-spaghetti, and quesadillas.

La Laguna was one of the first regional restaurants to open up in Nuevo Vallarta, the resort community just across the Nayarit border from Puerto Vallarta. Set on a lagoon, the restaurant offers waterfront views and a menu filled with most underwater life.

Skip dinner and go straight for dessert, like a chocolate and raspberry heart; martini and three-chocolate mousse; or Moka tarte, at the Café des Artistes del Mar, which opened in 2007 on a waterfront dock on the Punta de Mita peninsula.

What to Do

Ten years ago, surfers came to Sayulita to escape the hordes at Puerto Vallarta. Now you can escape Sayulita at next-door San Pancho, a worthy, and far less crowded, rival. Bring your own boards or rent gear from the San Pancho Surf Shop (American Latina, 3; 52-311-258-4312), where manager Alonzo Hernandez will guide you to the day’s best waves, typically found along Chacala and LaLancha beaches.

When you’re ready to reengage, return to Sayulita and its unexpectedly compelling fashion scene. Its sartorial HQ is Pachamama, whose French surfer-sister owners stock sexy snakeskin skirts, colorful, hand-embroidered Mexican dresses, braided leather purses, and delicate beaded cuffs. Get a bikini from Brazil, Argentina, or Columbia at Yemaya, owned by American interior designer Hana Waxman. (There are also beach dresses and cover-ups for the less toned.) For something a bit more local, La Hamaca (110 Avda. Revolución; 52-322-227-5817) offers traditional masks, pottery, artwork, and hammocks sourced from Indian villages throughout Mexico and Guatemala.

Escape again with a ride through the treetops on a rainforest canopy tour. Embrace your inner Tarzan as you hop from treetop to treetop some 90 feet above the forest floor (safely, of course) attached to harnesses and a zip wire. Half-day (four and a half hours) excursions are $79 for adults and $53 for kids between 8 and 12.

The tiny man-made island of Mexcaltitan is, legend has it, the starting point of the Aztecs epic 300-year, 700-mile trek to the eventual capital of Tenochtitlan, now Mexico City. Today, this thousand-year-old hamlet populated by about 2,000 people, is a peek into a Mexico long lost to colonialism and modernity. Embark on the twenty-minute boat trip from the port at San Blas, a small Nayarit mainland town just north of Sayulita. Visit the museum to catch up on 4,000 years of ancient Mexican history and walk the plaza with its elegant cathedral and city hall. Snack at any of the tiny taco stands scattered all over the island.

If you can manage a vacation this winter, you’ll find bargains all over the world. The recent gains the dollar has made against the euro and the pound have put Europe within reach for budget travelers for the first time in years. And, prices in more tropical destinations have also come down for winter travel as providers try to lure vacationers reluctant to part with their travel dollars.

I’ve monitored trends, industry news, and sale patterns to point you in the direction of places that offer the best bargain value for the coming season. Below you’ll find examples of deals presently available for winter trips. Like all deals, these are sure to expire; however, a little research on your part can yield similar results when you’re ready to book.

Hawaii

Hawaii wants you back, and is willing to cut you a deal to make it happen. Years of courting well-heeled vacationers with big bucks and the spike in airfare prices caused by the bankruptcies of Aloha and ATA in early 2007 kept bargain hunters out of paradise until recently. But when the two airlines shut down, revenue streams to hotels, resorts, and attractions took a major hit, one that was worsened by a drop in visitor numbers brought on by the struggling economy. So to stay afloat, the islands are bringing prices back down.

How much are prices dropping? Enough to put them below—well below, in some cases—2007 rates.

Though packages are offering the best value this winter, airlines are tempting travelers with unusually low fares as well. For example, at press time, Hawaiian was running a sale with prices as low as $306 round-trip from Seattle, and new sales are cropping up all the time. Plus, there are more choices with new Alaska Airlines flights from Seattle, more service by Delta from Los Angeles and Atlanta, and added flights by WestJet from Vancouver. Hotels are also offering discounts, free nights, and resort credits. This kind of across-the-board savings in Hawaii hasn’t been seen in a long time, and it likely won’t last, so if you’re a budget traveler with a hankering for Hawaii, then seize the day. Better yet, carpe vacation!

Ireland

In its latest ad campaign, Ireland wants to know: Can you afford not to go? While the truest answer is probably yes, it’s a good question, especially for bargain hunters. A much better exchange rate, drop in oil prices and airfares, and great accommodations deals team up to make this winter a very affordable time to visit the Emerald Isle.

This upcoming season, regular airfares are beating last winter’s sale fares from the U.S. to Ireland. Non-sale fares for January travel start at about $375 from the East Coast and $480 from the West Coast.

Since May, the euro has plunged from nearly $1.60 to under $1.30. The more favorable exchange rate means visitors can make their vacation dollars go farther on the ground. In Ireland, that means more chances to explore ancient castles, ride horses along the coast, or discover Irish hospitality at local pubs.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has long been known as one of the most affordable vacation destinations in the Caribbean. But hot airfare competition and promotions all over the island are making it an even better deal this winter. Plus, since U.S. travelers to Puerto Rico don’t need passports (which cost $75 to $160 each for adults), it can be a more affordable option, and less of a customs hassle than many other Caribbean destinations.

Air service to Puerto Rico has really heated up recently. It all started when American Airlines announced it would cut routes to the island. JetBlue, AirTran, Continental, and Delta jumped in, adding more service from New York, Newark, Boston, Orlando, and Baltimore. American then got back in the game and announced it would continue its service after all. What first looked to be a loss in service has turned into a boom, and travelers benefit from the increased competition, especially during sales.

Air-and-hotel packages offer bargain value, with deals such as air from Miami and four nights’ accommodations from about $400 per person for December travel.

Puerto Rico isn’t the only place in the Caribbean that has good deals this winter. The U.S. Virgin Islands has a Winter Escape promotion that offers $300 in traveler’s checks and a free fifth night. You can find the offer through travel agents, online travel agents, or airline vacation providers. There’s also new JetBlue service to St. Maarten, and new service to St. Kitts and Nevis from American Airlines. Many hotels are offering special rates as well, so this is one of those times when a little research can save you a lot of money.

Caribbean

Yes it’s true, Caribbean cruises aren’t strictly a “destination.” So what are they doing on this list? They’re just too good a deal to not mention this winter. Here’s why: For most of the last year, as airlines struggled and destinations started offering deep discounts to keep visitors coming, the cruise industry remained as popular as ever, and the prices reflected that. But a sharp drop-off in bookings has cruise lines suddenly and seriously discounting sailings. And that puts cruising on this bargain destination map.

You can find luxury cruises for mainstream cruise line prices, and on the more affordable mainstream lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean, per-day rates are just about as low as they go.

Check the latest reviews of cruise deals to find prices for your dates.

Every year, the world’s best surfers flock to Oahu’s North Shore for the sport’s Triple Crown. The waves are phenomenal — as long as the weather cooperates.

By Sean Patrick Reily, REPORTING FROM OAHU, HAWAII

You’re on Oahu’s North Shore at the Banzai Pipeline, the most famous big wave on the world’s most famous big wave surfing coastline. You set up not 50 yards from the wave’s rising peak, so close you feel the shivers as its water wall shakes the shoreline.

On the bigger waves, the windows in the houses on the beach rattle as you watch lifeguards gun their wave-running machines to extract a downed surfer before the next wave hits and destroys them both. You might even collect a snapped surfboard half for a souvenir as it washes ashore.

“If you’ve never been to a surf competition in Hawaii, it’s as if you took the space shuttle to the moon and got off into this very surreal experience,” says noted big wave rider Dan Moore of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing contests that begin here this week.

“The waves exploding create this energy field in the air that illuminates the whole coast. And the intensity and level of athletic ability has climbed every year, which makes the surfing just phenomenal to watch.”

The season for big wave surfing on the North Shore of Oahu begins in October every year and usually lasts till early March.

That’s when thousands of surfers gather to prove themselves against the waves and against one another along the 8-mile stretch of coastline that runs from Haleiwa north to Turtle Bay, the North Shore’s only resort.

In the heart of this season, beginning Wednesday and running to Dec. 20, the 260 best surfers on the planet will arrive to conclude their year-long professional world tour at the Triple Crown, a series of three men’s and three women’s surf contests at three North Shore locations. Think of it as the Super Bowl of surfing, with 20-foot-tall linebackers.

All are worthy and accessible spectator events. The first men’s and women’s contest is at Haleiwa, where the waves break medium-close to shore and are viewed from a bluff that offers a clear vantage.

The second men’s and women’s contest is at legendary Sunset Beach, where you’ll want binoculars for the deep-water surf break.

But it’s the third and final competition for the men at Pipeline (the third women’s event is at Maui’s Honolua Bay) that holds the most prestige and spectacle and unfolds a seashell’s throw before you.

Without being in the water, Pipeline is “about as close up as you can get to huge waves anywhere on the planet,” says Jodi Wilmott, spokesperson for the Triple Crown. “It’s a spectator’s dream,” provided that the far-off storm patterns are cooperating.

“What people coming to watch the surf competitions need to keep in mind is that you’re dealing with Mother Nature,” Wilmott says. “Big waves are generated by big storms. We can’t predict what day that storm is going to be.”

To accommodate that, the Pipeline Masters and each Triple Crown event have a window of 12 to 13 days during which the contest director will select the best four or five to hold the event.

That spur-of-the-moment element might leave travelers uncertain. Wilmott advises those planning five to seven days in Hawaii to schedule their trip in the middle of the time frame. For example, the Pipeline Masters runs Dec. 8 to 20, “so I’d recommend you come between Dec. 11 and 17 if you want to be guaranteed to catch at least one day of great waves,” she says.

A contest day runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Beginning at 7 a.m., a hotline keeps spectators posted on whether the event is on or not that day, (808) 596-7873.

“It might say there is no competition today because the waves are 30 feet and closing out on the North Shore. But for a spectator, that might not even matter because at 30 feet, they might want to come over just to see anyway,” Wilmott says.

To avoid traffic and secure a good spot on a Triple Crown day, start out before 8 a.m. The North Shore has just one coast road of one lane each way, and on contest days traffic will start to back up by 10 or 11 a.m. But as a rule, even the worst traffic won’t delay you more than 45 minutes.

Besides, “it’s Hawaii. You just learn to go with it,” says Moore, who has lived in the islands for 35 years. “And if you come later, there is going to be some turnover of people coming and going all the time.”

The first parking option for the Pipeline Masters and Sunset Beach is along the roadside and that fills up fast. When it does, local residents open up their yards and charge $5 for parking. It’s worth every penny; it’ll be a short walk to the beach and the event itself is free.

1. You typed in “Hawaii Vacation” in Google and have 4.5 million options.
2. The airline just canceled your flight. Now what?
3. The hotel looked like it was on the beach from the photos.
4. You just arrived in Bangkok at 3am and you need a ride to your hotel.
5. It’s your honeymoon and theres 12 screaming kids at a tiny pool.
6. A travel agent has access to rates that are not available to the public.
7. We don’t charge fee’s at The Visitor Center. Our service is free!

The Visitor Center is pleased to announce the appointment of our new ground transportation handler. Penny, a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier joins our family of experienced travel professionals. Her responsibilities include our Client’s airport transportation needs, in addition to hunting down lost luggage, valet services, and child care.

For 82 tremendous years, the Harlem Globetrotters
have thrilled audiences around the world.

Today, a new generation of stars carries on this storied
tradition with timeless basketball exhibitions.

Here we see a photo taken in 1960 of a player getting
surf lessons with Diamondhead in the background.

Well hello TVC fans, thank you for your continued support. We are happy to send you all over the world. We love to specialize in choosing the right destination based on your interests. You’re too busy and we know it. We do all the work. For free! Plus we are really nice people ;>) (So we’ve heard) **Click here to see our Client Testimonials**

The Visitor Center is happy to see that you all are still going on vacation and making plans to go on vacation. We are constantly notified about steal of a deal specials for every destination daily!!

Here’s a tempting insider tip for all you Visitor Center clients out there. The next 10 people to book the Hyatt Maui with The Visitor Center will qualify for a free TWO FOR ONE LUAU CERTIFICATE!!!! You can’t find this deal anywhere!! And it is our pleasure to offer this to you!

Drums of the Pacific is Maui’s premier Luau!
Beachfront Location, all you can eat Buffet, Open Bar
(not just Mai Tais, enjoy many of any cocktail)
Coupon must be redeemed before December 21, 2008
This is an exclusive offer from Hyatt Maui to The Visitor Center!
The coupon represents a $100 savings

“Were here for you before, during, and after your vacation!”

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We have added a new side bar tool to the right side of the blog.

The Flight Delay Information RSS feed.

Everyone can come here to check to see if there is a flight delay in their town prior to going on their vacation.