E

Hit
The Beach.

Sun and surf are still popular
for singles at vacation time

HEIDI PRESS

Local News Editor

T

he sunny, white beaches of
Cancun will be on the
itinerary of many singles
who plan to travel this
spring. Great weather and reason-
able prices add to the attractiveness,
according to local travel agents.
Debbie Alfieri, president and
owner of Travel Representatives,
said singles are particularly at-
tracted to Cancun because "it's in-
ternational and caters to the Ameri-
can tourist. It's new, plush and prices
are inexpensive."
An all-inclusive package — air-
fare, transfers and hotel — can run as
low as $419 up to $839 for a deluxe
hotel, according to Al Gordon, owner
of Gordon Travel.
Penny Marinos, manager of the
retail department of Hamilton, Mil-
ler, Hudson and Fayne, said the Can-
cun Club Med is popular for singles,
but the Krystal Hotel at the end of
the beach also is gaining note. 'It's
got the whitest sand, bluest water,
and it's new and real, real nice," she
said. The shops and bars make it a
"well-rounded hotel."
Club Med resorts are again
popular with singles because of their
accessibility from Detroit and the
fact that they, too, provide all-
inclusive packages. Terry Rotenberg,
owner manager of Gemini Travel,
said singles are not charged a singles
supplement and you don't need a

companion to have a good time." For
seven nights, a typical Club Med
package costs about $1,200-$1,500.
Hot Club Med sites this year are Tur-
quoise in the Caribbean, Cancun and
Paradise Island.
Jamaican resorts- are drawing a
lot of single travelers according to
Rotenberg. Its Hedonism II resort fo-
cuses on watersports, and travelers
can also play tennis, go scuba diving
and water skiing. All meals are in-
cluded and there is no additional cost
for staying alone. Rochelle Lieber-
man, president of Gateway Travel,
said Sandals Royal Carribean resort,
also located in Jamaica, offers a
week-long package for about $1,150.
Many singles are still opting for
cruises for their spring travel desti-
nations, and there even is one avail-
able for single parents. Annette
Langwald, president of Cruises Only!
Ltd. and Elkin Travel, Inc., said a
cruise and trip to Disneyworld are
available at a cost of about $750 per
adult and $450 per child.
To attest to the popularity of
cruises for singles, Marinos of Hamil-
ton, Miller, Hudson and Fayne says
"there is no space left," especially to
Mexico and Cancun. A basic cruise
package for seven nights includes the
ports of San Juan, St. Thomas and
Nassau and runs about $1,300. Al-
fieri of Travel Representatives says
another reason for the attractiveness
of cruises is that prices are coming
down.
Singleworld cruises are "real

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