The dining hall at Rancho la Puerta.

by Brook Wilkinson

Rancho la Puerta is one of the few places in the world that I'd happily travel to again, and again, and again. I usually hate to repeat a destination, figuring that there are already too many to cover in a single lifetime. But last week marked my fourth visit to this spa in Baja, Mexico. Why? One day at the ranch and your everyday stresses disappear. One week and you can't even remember what stressed you out in the first place.

If you want to spend a week nourishing body and mind with fitness classes, organic food, and inner reflection, take a few tips from a ranch veteran:

Clear your schedule for bingo.
Thursday night is bingo night. Come not for the prizes but for Barry the emcee, who keeps the crowd in stitches. I didn't even care that I didn't win a single game last week, but if I had, I would have taken a big bottle of Mexican vanilla extract as my prize -- and given it to my friend in San Diego on the way home, since I only travel with carry-ons and the bottles contain far more than three ounces.

More advice after the jump. 

Approaching the Canadian border from Lewiston, New York.
Photo: lockport-ny.com

by Brook Wilkinson

Some careful readers noticed a loophole in my post about traveling without a passport. The State Department has temporarily lifted the passport requirement for travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean, as long as you show proof of a passport application. But those countries all require a birth certificate to enter their borders -- and you need to hand over your birth certificate in order to apply for a new passport (though not a renewal). So, what to do if you're flying to Vancouver next week and haven't yet gotten your new passport in the mail? I asked Richard Turen, a knowledgeable source for all kinds of travel conundrums. Richard says:

by Brook Wilkinson

I mentioned yesterday that the State Department had recently announced that Americans don't need a passport to enter Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, or the Caribbean. Well, that's only half the story. If you don't bring a passport, you better bring a birth certificate.

U.S. officials have no problem letting you out of the country (or back in) with just a state-issued I.D. and proof that you've applied for a passport. Officials of those other countries, however, still want a certified U.S. birth certificate as well. You can read the exact documentation requirements of each country on the State Department's website.

U.S. officials did such a poor job of getting this message across that many people have been showing up at the airport in the last few days with only a driver's license and passport application, and have been turned down for flights to Quebec or Acapulco. Don't let the State Department's double-speak ruin your summer vacation.

He's less cuddly than a bunny, but the Aussies love their "Easter Bilby."
Photo: Queensland gov. EPA

By Tara Kyle

In the spirit of Easter, I thought I'd highlight a few of the stranger ways the holiday is being acknowledged around the world.

Mexico City: The middle and upper classes in landlocked Mexico City typically spend Easter fleeing for the coasts,  but this year the city hosted the grand opening of a fake beach, according to Worldhum.  The idea of a spit of sand alongside a noisy road junction sounds pretty bizarre, not to mention that Reuters reports the government spent $200k on it. But I felt more sympathetic when I read Mayor Marcelo Ebrard's justification: "There are those upset by the artificial beaches. Perhaps they can get to other beaches, but this was built for the majority, and it's free."

Australia: TreeHugger reminds us that in Australia it's time to "get hopping" for the "Easter Bilby." This little furball is sadly endangered, and since 1999 has been the subject of a passionate "Save the Bilby" campaign.

London:  Chocolatier Thornton's built an 860-pound chocolate billboard for Easter week, Jaunted reports, only to watch passersby devour it within three hours of its Tuesday opening.

What are some other Easter traditions you've encountered?

The terrace of the Celestial Suite at the Hacienda San Angel in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Photo courtesy of the Hacienda San Angel.

by Wendy Perrin

Question from reader LSheppard:

"My friend and I will be visiting Puerto Vallarta in May and are looking for a VERY upscale resort that isn't for just couples or families.  Any recommendations?"

Lucky you. You'd probably feel VERY pampered at the Four Seasons Punta Mita, located 26 miles (45 minutes) north of Puerto Vallarta.  If you need to be closer to town, consider the Hacienda San Angel, which was on Conde Nast Traveler's Hot List in 2005, or Casa Velas, which is adults only but not couples only. Buen viaje!

St. Lucia
Photo: St. Lucia Tourist Board

By Wendy Perrin

Today's the day that many Caribbean and Mexican resorts have been dreading: From now on you need a passport to fly back into the U.S. from Mexico, Canada, or non-U.S. islands in the Caribbean. (You don't need one yet if you're returning by land or sea.)  The new rules are at getapassportnow.com. For the low-down on rush fees or if you're looking for a passport expediting service, click here.

Many Caribbean and Mexican resorts, concerned the new regulation might scare off customers, are helping defray the cost of getting a passport ($97 without the rush fee) by offering special discounts and perks to U.S. citizens who arrive with brand-new passports. 

If St. Lucia is the first stamp in your new passport, for instance, the Ladera Resort will reimburse the cost of obtaining it and also give you a complimentary 30-minute massage at its spa (a minimum 5-night stay is required). Make Anguilla the first stamp in your passport, and the Arawak Beach Inn will give you a room for $120 per night (4 nights required) and throw in a "private day excursion to a secluded beach on an uninhabited island, including gourmet packed lunch."

Marriott and Renaissance properties throughout the Caribbean and Mexico are offering a $100 resort credit per room if you arrive with a new passport and stay a minimum of five nights.  And SuperClubs resorts will credit your passport cost toward your vacation package.   

Conde Nast Traveler's bash last night at New York's Museum of Natural History
Photos: Patrick Butler

By Wendy Perrin

What are the world's best islands?  The Maldives.
What's the best city in Europe?  Florence.
What's the world's best resort? The Four Seasons Bali at Sayan.

We learned all this and more last night at Conde Nast Traveler's annual Readers' Choice Awards ceremony, which honors the destinations, airlines, hotels, cruise lines, et al., that the magazine's well-traveled readers have rated the world's best. The award ceremony will be televised on the Travel Channel on October 25 at 8 pm E/P, but instead of making you wait, I'll share some of my favorite moments:

The actor Liam Neeson, a dedicated flyfisherman, told this story before handing out the award for best airline:  He enjoys discovering rivers off the beaten track and was once fishing in Patagonia with a 9-year-old river guide in a remote spot so "pure" that not only had the boy never heard of Paraguay, he'd never even heard of New York.  LOVE that!  The winner of the award for best U.S. airline, by the way, was JetBlue.  Singapore Airlines beat out Cathay Pacific and Emirates for best foreign airline--which surprised nobody, since Singapore has won for 18 of the last 19 years. Everyone laughed when Singapore's head of North American operations accepted the award and said, "In the words of Madonna . . .  'lt's just like the very first time.'"

I also enjoyed when Marcia Gay Harden, who was presenting the awards for best Mexican resort (La Casa Que Canta in Zihuatanejo) and best Atlantic Ocean resort (One & Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas), recalled how she was first smitten by the travel bug: As a child, she and her 4 siblings flew to Japan. (Harden's mom deserves a red badge of courage.  Can you imagine taking 5 kids between the ages of 9 and 2 on a 15-hour flight?!)  The flight attendant gave Harden a pen and a coloring book, and she couldn't have been happier. Ever since her first moments in Japan, she said, "I've loved looking for the next best place to go."

The comedienne Sandra Bernhard, who makes no secret of her lesbian leanings, announced,  "I'm proud to be bi. . . coastal" and then handed out the award for best city in the Americas (outside the U.S.): Vancouver. The Vancouver award accepter quipped that yes, it's true, in Vancouver "you can ski and golf in the same day. . .but only if you come back early from sailing."

Ivanka Trump said that one of her most meaningful vacations was when she spent two weeks traveling in Patagonia alone and learned a lot about herself.  The cruise-line awards she handed out were perhaps the biggest upset of the evening. Crystal Cruises, which has been rated the best large-ship cruise line for the last 11 years, was edged out by Regent Seven Seas by 1/10 of a percentage point.  As for best small-ship cruise line, Sea Dream Yacht Club (click here for my recent post about it) snatched the honor away from longtime favorite Silversea.

The complete award results can be found in the November issue of Conde Nast Traveler (and at cntraveler.com starting Oct. 24).  Or you can tune in to the Travel Channel on October 25.

Natasha Richardson in the green room before presenting awards onstage at the Conde Nast Traveler 2006 Readers' Choice Awards ceremony, Oct. 16, 2006

San Miguel de Allende
Photo: internetsanmiguel.com

By Wendy Perrin

So this week we've learned that when heading to countries where the food can't always be trusted, some travelers pack baby food, others take freeze-dried camping meals.  A third suggestion came in from reader Liz Duffy:

"Some locals in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, advise their visiting house guests to begin taking acidophilus two weeks before arriving to help boost the good intestinal flora in the stomach that helps weather potentially funky foods."

Great tip, Liz.  I've never packed acidophilus myself, but now I realize there's another reason to do so: Antibiotics often cause stomach trouble that is relieved by acidophilus.  Since I usually pack an antibiotic -- I've learned the hard way that in remote, exotic places you must be your own doctor -- I should pack acidophilus too.  Here's a fun anecdote from a traveler in Asia who needed both.

Anyone else have a travel health tip to share?  Just click on "Comments" below.