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I think my last hours spent in Ixtapa might have been the most special.

Yesterday, I had the unique opportunity to swim with dolphins at Delfiniti Ixtapa, a “dolphinarium” located five minutes from the main strip of hotels, and just off the beach.  For 45 minutes I swam among the dolphins, petting, hugging and marveling at their gentle nature and intelligence.

The instructors provide a full explanation – in English and Spanish – of all the activities and the rules.  I felt completely safe and relaxed in their hands, as did the many young children enjoying their first introduction to marine life.

As if that experience weren’t enough to write home about, later that night I headed to the El Presidente Hotel for their Fiesta Mexicana, a weekly outdoor festival featuring dancers from all over Mexico, vendors selling local crafts, and tacos al pastor that were legendary. I had heard rumors that the best tacos in Ixtapa were served at this fiesta and I couldn’t wait to judge for myself.

I was not disappointed. Cooked in front of me, the meat was flavorful and tender, served simply on a small corn tortilla. On the side was a selection of chopped onion and salsas – leaving it to each hungry patron to decide how much they want to sweat.

If tacos aren’t your thing, you certainly won’t starve here. Posole, chorizo con pappas (sausage and potatoes), beans, tortillas, elote asados (grilled corn), empanadas filled with cheese and mushrooms, and traditional nopale “salad” lined the buffet table as well, along with horchata, atoles and cerveza to cool you down.

I carried my heavy plate over to a table in front of the stage to watch the dancers. Representing the states of Jalisco, Michoacan, and Veracruz, each set injected a warm, local pride  into the night.  Obviously a Saturday night favorite, the mood at this party was relaxed and joyful, with locals dancing along with the music, sipping their drinks and basically making the most of the dwindling summer nights.

It’s low season now and the heat and regular rains keep most tourists away. Only the true lovers of Mexican culture and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo’s unique charms remain.  It’s a different experience to travel during an off season – while the roads are empty, the lines short, and the glorious coastline extends itself only to you.

~Vanessa Torres, reporting live from Ixtapa

Steve Wynn is a name that is synonymous with luxury and opulence. On December 22, 2008, Steve Wynn unveiled Encore, the newest resort in his collection, which yet again reinforced the stereotype that he is the king of grandeur.

Located next door to his flagship property, Wynn Las Vegas, Encore is a distinct destination with its own selection of accommodations, dining, casino, and leisure activities. Central to Encore’s fanciful and intimate environments are sunlit corridors with flowering atria and sprawling pools visible throughout the property. Natural light floods the resort to reveal gardens, vibrant butterflies and signature mosaics.

Every room at the Encore is a suite, with a separate living and sleeping area. The resort’s rooms are divided into two collections, the Resort Suites and the Tower Suites. The Tower Suites are separated by a separate entrance and private check-in area.  Although the common areas of the Resort Suites are gorgeous and the service exceptional, the Tower Suites are a step up. While checking into a Tower Suite you are met with a warm towel and fresh water…and within seconds you are whisked away to your room in a private elevator lined in silk and accented by hand painted butterflies. Even though the Tower Suites’ most basic room is the same as the ones in the Resort wing, the Tower Suites feature opulent 2,261 square foot multi room suites as well, that include lavish touches like a dedicated massage room.

The magnificence does not end at the rooms…if it did, then this would obviously not be a Wynn Resort…the restaurants of the Encore set a new level of fine dining in Las Vegas. The first night I dined at Sinatra, whose head chef is Theo Schoenegger, from the Patina Group. When Sinatra’s family decided to open a restaurant in Las Vegas, it made sense that they teamed up with his old friend Steve Wynn. The timing was perfect as the family was looking to start the new venture around the same time that Wynn was opening his new opus. At first I found a restaurant named after a celebrity a bit kitschy, but again Wynn used his powers to take an idea that could easily be cheesy and make it elegant.

When you arrive at the restaurant Sinatra’s actual Oscar, Emmy and Grammy greet you, in addition to other memorabilia from the family’s collection. His timeless music fills the elegant dining room and his Italian roots are an underlying theme in the menu. Schoenegger’s relationships with California farmers allow him to bring the area’s seasonal and greenmarket ingredients to his restaurant at Encore. A cozy outdoor patio allows guests to dine al fresco, creating the feel of an intimate dinner party in a Tuscan garden.

The second night I dined at Switch, the Encore’s answer to a steakhouse. Helmed by Marc Poivedin, the former Executive Chef at Le Cirque at Bellagio. Poivedin brings a refreshing French twist to this steakhouse, which makes it the perfect place to bring a group that may not all be steak lovers. I highly recommend splurging for the tasting menu, as this is where you get a full perspective of Poidevin’s talents.  Highlights that evening were the citrus smoked swordfish carpaccio and the Kobe beef strip steak.

But the restaurant was not called Switch because of the food; it is the décor that landed the restaurant its name. Every 20 minutes the restaurant completely redecorates itself…I know that does not make sense and when the waiter explained it to me…I did not get it either.  While dining, the music suddenly raised and the walls started to disappear, which gave way to another completely different décor. There are other surprises in store, but I will let you go and find out for yourself…www.encorelasvegas.com

The island of Aruba, located outside of the hurricane belt, is a worry-free fall travel destination in the Caribbean. In honor of this, the Westin in Aruba is offering the “Hurricane Free” escape, starting at $199 per room, per night, gives guests a $74 credit per room (74 being the minimum wind speed of a Category 1 hurricane) if it rains more than three hours on any day of their trip. The “Hurricane Free” package is valid through Nov. 30, 2009, the official end of hurricane season (elsewhere in the Caribbean). www.westinaruba.com