How bad did Hurricane Dean hit?Edited by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLadyHurricane Dean was the first major hurricane of the season to hit the Caribbean. JAMAICA While it did cause some loss of life and serious damage along parts of its path, particularly the southern coast of Jamaica, it proved to be less damaging to tourism interests than it might have been, with mainly some wind, water, and landscape damage.
Regardless, it provided a scare at many popular resort destinations and several were evacuated. MEXICO According to top industry newsletter Travel Weekly, Category 5 conditions walloped the Mexican coastal town of Majahual along with its cruise port of Costa Maya. Most devastating was that 50% of the port's infrastructure was damaged and parts of its massive concrete dock, which can host up to three ships at a time, simply washed away. Substitute ports are currently in the works as Costa Maya could remain closed for vital repairs for up to eight months.
Dean also roared into the Yucatan Peninsula, snatching beachfuls of sand and leaving the walk from your resort for your morning dip quite a bit shorter. THE GOOD NEWS 
 
Definitely expect to see some attractive prices for travel deals popping up as the resorts that were hit try to entice travelers back. PLANNING A CARIBBEAN VACATIONGreat Guidebooks A TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE JEWISH CARIBBEAN AND SOUTH AMERICAN
By Ben G. Frank
A practical, anecdotal, and adventurous journey through historic Jewish Caribbean and South America including Kosher restaurants, cafes, synagogues, and museums, plus cultural and heritage sites. Fodor’s Caribbean 2006
Where to stay and eat for all budgets
Good shopping sections
www.fodors.com A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CARIBBEAN
From the Arawak and Carib to the Present
By Jan Rogozinski
A Plume Book
www.penguinputnam.com INSIGHT GUIDES Caribbean Cruises
Langenscheidt Publishers
www.insightguides.com PLANNING A MEXICAN VACATION GREAT GUIDEBOOKS
LET’S GO MEXICO
Edited by Anthony Gabriele
ST.MARTIN’S PRESS
www.letsgo.com MOON HANDBOOKS PACIFIC MEXICO
By Bruce Whipperman
Avalon Travel Publishing
www.Moon.com Lonely Planet Mexico
Well organized with great pictures and maps
Terrific section on shopping
www.lonelyplanet.com EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES MEXICO
DK PUBLISHING, INC
WWW.dk.com TRAVELERS TALES GUIDES
MEXICO
Edited by James O’Reily and Larry Habegger RECENT MEXICO STORIES BY MADELYN MILLERLos Cabos Shutterbug
http://travellady.com/Issues/April07/4083aSHUTTERBUG.htm Cinco de Mayo
http://www.travellady.com/Issues/May07/4125CINCODEMAYO.htm Mexican Food http://www.travellady.com/Issues/November06/3694MexicanCuisine.htm The difference between Tex-Mex and Mexican food
http://www.travellady.com/Issues/September06/3564TexMex.htm’ Sugar Skulls and Altars
Mexico celebrates Day of the Dead
http://www.travellady.com/Issues/September06/3531SUGARSKULLS.htm Cancun all-inclusive
http://www.travellady.com/Issues/March04/604Mexicocancun.htm Acapulco—Fun for all
http://www.travellady.com/Issues/July06/3397Acapulco.htm Lusting for the Lemon Lady and other marvelous memories of Merida
http://www.ravellady.com/Issues/July06/3001LemonLady.htm Grazing on Grasshopers and other Culinary Delights
http://www.travellady.com/Issues/January05/1010GrazingonGrasshoppers.htm Unesco World Heritage Site Baja, California
http://www.travellady.com/Issues/June06/3356WORLDHERITAGE.htm Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Mexican Beer
http://www.travellady.com/Issues/May06/3267Celebrate.htm Playa Parasio. A pictures perfect Mexican vacation
http://www.travellady.com/Issues/March04/604Mexicocancun.htm Puerta Vallarta: The culinary capital of Mexico
http://www.travellady.com/Issues/Issue50/PuertoVallarta.htm From the Closet to the Spotlight: Mexican contemporary art
http://www.travellady.com/Issues/January03/FromtheClosettotheSpotlight.htm Something Seductive to do when it is really cold Outside
http://www.travellady.com/Issues/November03/Something%20Seductive%20to%20Do%20When%20It's%20Really%20Cold%20Outside.htm Cancun Nude resort
http://www.travellady.com/Issues/July03/CancunNudeResort.htm I was an Inaugural Virgin:Ixtapa
http://www.travellady.com/Issues/February04/IWasanInauguralVirgin.htm Hummer Trekking in Los Cabos
http://www.travellady.com/Issues/January07/3800ADVENTUREHUMMER.htm Madelyn Miller is a food and travel writer who loves Mexico. Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.teaAtlas.com and www.coffeeatlas.com | 