As a traveler, you likely go to this site and at least use ratings in your initial search of specific attractions and resorts. But does that Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor equal a better experience?

The answer is more yes than no with some clarifications. First, resorts have really tried actively to get good ratings. A recent stay at a high-end resort in Playa Del Carmen, a top five in the rankings for that area illustrates this dilemma. Strolling the property, “Rate us on Trip Advisor…” was posted in all elevators and walkways. It may be that kind of orchestrated advertorial push works the other way, negative ratings or no ratings at all. “Tell them Joe sent you” would have worked better.

 

To get the CE designation, the venue will have to get a minimum of four out of five stars for a 12-month period. Elizabeth Monahan, Senior Public Relations Specialist, noted, “The accolade is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Approximately 10 percent of accommodations listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award.” When you think about it, Top-10 is a pretty good number in any industry, let alone the travel industry where super-competitive is the norm. And, with 600 million reviews in the pool, that is a worthy accomplishment.

 

However, there is substance to the program, and as a result, venues have likely become a little bit more responsive to online complaints. According to Monica Birrueta, Social Media and PR Manager for the El Cid Resorts, “every negative review must be heard and responded since these are areas of opportunity for improving our services and facilities. We read and follow up on each and every comment, positive or negative, as we greatly appreciate that our guests take the time to write their thoughts about our establishment.” This was the ElCid policy from the beginning, and TripAdvisor just offered another avenue to demonstrate to the potential guests they listen and try to act on comments. TripAdvisor awarded El Cid El Moro Beach Hotel and its restaurant La Concha, La Marina restaurant located at El Cid Marina Beach Hotel and El Patio restaurant at El Cid Granada & Country Club with the prestigious 2017 Certificate of Excellence.

An area that has benefited from this program is categorizing the resort or venue. Comments tend to link the advertised nature and amenities of the venue to the actual experience. Rather than a venue being the best at everything for every potential guest, they are able to focus on their niche through real customers helping to define their slot.

 

In the case of El Cid Resorts, they have a Quality Team that evaluates comments as they relate to actual services or amenities. As TripAdvisor grew in outreach, this department expanded to accommodate the follow up on all reviews. So, you as the traveler are more likely to get an experience that was accurately described before your visit.

 

As Birrueta notes about El Cid Resorts receiving the Certificate of Excellence, “there is a positive impact on business as we are ranked on first places on TripAdvisor. In posting our different awards on our site, our future guests can feel comfortable and secure knowing our guests trust us.”

 

The TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence is not a total guarantee of a great experience that matches your expectations. However, like Mister Rogers, you will likely be in the right travel neighborhood.

I will admit to not being very good with cameras. As I write travel stories and pieces on gear, my wordsmithery has far outweighed my poor imitation of Ansel Adams. At least it did until now.

Thanks to much better camera technology, I might at least be up to the Ansel part. I have tried numerous cameras for travel pieces, and like you, the seasoned traveler, I like easy with minimal adjustments.

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Mazatlan is a city with a 500-year-old history. This means culture, history, and activity have a rich meld not found in the manufactured mega-resort destinations.

In a word, Mazatlan is pretty darn authentic. And, it is relatively easy to navigate as most businesses and hotels run along the beach and boardwalk from north to south.

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Denver International Airport now has arguably the best food of any restaurant in the U.S. While traveling somewhere is the primary purpose, good food helps the journey pass a little more pleasantly. Gone are the days of tough burgers, donuts and coffee.

Yes, you can still get those, but DIA has morphed the restaurant concept so you can get exceptional fare right by your gate. And the options are sit & relax, dine quickly or get it to go as consumable carry-on. Many of the new restaurants have established locations elsewhere, so a presence at DIA makes sense with both name recognition and food options.

When B Concourse was the busiest, well that was where there were at least some food options. Now, every concourse from A to C has numerous options from quick, to go and sit a spell.

A Concourse tends to be an early out hub, and the best option for early to late is Mesa Verde Grill. This is the home of the True Colorado Breakfast. And, since it’s right smack in the middle of A concourse, a convenient one-stop for everything. Meal options go from breakfast to small plates to full entrees. It has a casual, south of the border feel, and since just out of the traffic lanes, a little bit of food piece and quiet. Options are the full bar inside, inside seating, or seating along the mezzanine. Many of the dishes cross over from one meal to the next including their Huevos Rancheros and Skillets. If there was one dish not to miss, it is Sabana de Pollo, a grilled chicken breast covered with Asadero cheese, over rice with a roasted Serrano pepper.

If you want the exceptional dining experience, then Elway’s on B Concourse is it. Get one foot inside the space, and you are out of the airport and into an upscale dining oasis. Like other restaurants at DIA, limited kitchen space means you can’t get all the items at a freestanding location. However, everything here is just as good. Besides being a great food stop, this is also an excellent place for a business meeting as well. It has been said you can judge a good restaurant by its iceberg wedge salad, and this has a classic. Another great one is the truffled beet-fresh mozzarella salad. The most popular dinner selection and a must try the short rib “off the bone.”  Braised slowly in rich stock and served with mashed potatoes on the side. Elway’s is open for breakfast as well, and offers the same level of food attention and taste that made them famous for dinner,

New Belgium Hub is obviously a brewpub, but the question is always how is the food? Well, if you are on this end of B concourse, this is definitely a one-stop with both great drinks and food. The breakfast starter of choice is the Belgium Waffles Hub Style, a little stack of beer-infused breakfast heaven. Their Velodrome Bowls give you steamed rice, roasted vegetables and your selection of in-house roasted meats with five different sauce options. And, as expected from this Ft. Collins offshoot, plenty of microbrew options for any taste.

Before business got cranking on C concourse, there were not any real food options, and that has changed dramatically. The Tapas Sky Bar is really unique in it has bar service, tables and charging workstations for customers. The drinks are up a notch, starting with the Jalapeno Sweet Margarita. Limited breakfast items, but the small and large plates are where Tapas makes a food dent. The Mediterranean Platters comes with roasted garlic hummus, olives, nuts, roasted red peppers, fresh mozzarella, and grapes. And, all the food at Tapas can be had to go. More importantly, their liquor license applies to that end of the terminal, so new meaning to “go juice.”

If you need more a relaxing moment in the middle of the A concourse, then Root Down is THE sit-down. Arguably the most original bar and restaurant interior at DIA for starters, then fantastic food. Take any dish; add a dose of global infusion and the old favorite has some zing. Try the Salmon Bento Box, an American interpretation of which features Sweet Chili Thai Glaze, Multigrain Coconut Rice, Roasted Edame Salad, Miso Vin Arugula & Fortune Cookie. If a burger is on the food trail, then 1/2 lb. Never Ever Beef Burger is the meat wagon on a pretzel bun, tender belly bacon, cheddar, sriracha mayo & sweet potato waffle fries.

Tasty and healthy on the run is now available through Modern Markets in both B & C concourses. A variety of salads, sandwiches and pizzas all which can be easily carried on the plane. Now that is dine & dash.

 

Like a rite of spring, The Denver Golf Expo just keeps going and getting better every year. Even with a blizzard, the show managed to get 11,900 enthusiastic golf attendees.

One of the key features is a diversity of booth and exhibits from equipment to clothing, travel and instruction. One of the more innovative attempts at instruction focuses on the junior player who wants to get noticed by the college coaches. Rick Timm, longtime PGA Instructor started the RecruitLook Golf tour to help juniors prepare for that college look.

Equipment is always hot at the show, and the most innovative product might have been the HL3 club line from Tour Edge. These clubs break the mold on what you thought custom clubs should cost for the average player. Their HL3 line features everything from drivers to wedges. And in the irons, both an iron/wood style versus traditional club heads. Designed for the player who only plays one a week or every two weeks, with minimal practice time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Something about golf means golf courses are part of resorts, and almost a mainstay at any casino. John Edwards, long time golf marketing consultant now has the “Casino Golf Resort Guide” to help you steer to the best casino/golf combination for your tastes.

Golf requires fuel and a new bar company FourPoints, had some really tasty bars that will work well for golfers. Low sugar, so you don’t get a spike with an easy to eat of of the wrapper feature. Most are 250-280 kcal, so the right amount for on the course nutrition.

Everyone throws some type of hydration or energy drink in the bag. Tasty with a little zip for the game rules. Petey’s Bing Beverage is really refreshing with real cherry juice, 5 B vitamins and vitamin C with just a little caffeine for zip and mental focus.